Compulsory breath-testing of all drivers involved in road accidents is being considered by the Government in the campaign against drink-driving.
The Minister of State for Environment and Local Government, Mr Robert Molloy, says he is considering including the measure in the new Road Traffic Bill, which is being drafted by his Department.
At present the law only allows for a roadside breath test where a garda believes a driver has consumed intoxicating liquor.
Mr Molloy said yesterday that it made sense for gardai to have the authority to randomly test motorists and that motorists involved in accidents should be automatically breathalysed.
"The drink-driving limit is now so low that in many cases it is hard to detect if someone has drink taken. In my opinion, gardai need more flexibility," he said.
A change in the law to provide for random breath-testing was promised in the Government Strategy for Road Safety 19982002. The last Road Traffic Bill was published in 1994 and a new Bill is expected to be published in the spring.
Meanwhile, the latest drink-driving figures show that offences have increased.
The Garda statistics show that for the year to December 21st, 9,458 motorists were arrested for drink-driving. This compares with 8,415 in 1998. The figures have been rising since 1995, when the number of drivers arrested for drink-driving was 4,766.
However, a Garda source said the increase in the numbers was also evidence of more checkpoints in place.
Since the Christmas road safety campaign began on November 21st, gardai have arrested 781 motorists suspected of drink-driving and breathalysed 2,468.
Meanwhile, Mr Molloy has confirmed that despite a legal challenge, the evidential breath-testing which started as a pilot scheme at Pearse Street Garda station, Dublin, and at Castlebar Garda station, Co Mayo, last October, is to be extended.
Gardai are required to bring a doctor to a station if they want to take a blood or urine sample. However, under a regulation provided for in the 1994 Road Traffic Act, gardai will be able to conduct a breath test without a doctor.
The testing is done with an alco-meter, which is used by police forces throughout Europe. The next stations to take delivery of the machines are Santry, Tallaght and Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, and Drogheda, Co Louth.
Each costs between £12,000 and £15,000. When a driver breathes into it, a printout is given of the alcohol intake. Drivers are asked to sign the printout to confirm the test was taken with their permission.