A pilot project encouraging motorists in the south-east to report suspicious or reckless driving has led to an increase in the number of prosecutions for drink-driving and dangerous driving.
Traffic Watch - the Garda initiative piloted in Waterford, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Wexford and Wicklow - began last year in a bid to reduce fatalities on the region's roads. Over 4,000 calls have since been logged to the lo-call number (1890 202 805). It allowed members of the public to help eliminate aggressive motoring and reduce the number of road fatalities and serious injury accidents.
Of those calls, 1,500 led to follow-up investigations and one-third of these involved motorists receiving warnings and reprimands from gardaí. Others had to be dropped as insufficient information had been provided by the complainant.
Ten convictions have come about from prosecutions for drink- driving with another motorist being fined for disposing of fast food wrappers from a car window. Another 10 cases are pending, following calls to Traffic Watch.
Insp Michael Melia highlighted the significance of the phone line in the Garda's overall roads strategy.
"Despite the low number of convictions, the phone line has proved invaluable as part of our overall strategy. It has pinpointed areas of concern and follow-up patrols of these areas have led to further convictions. We have also impounded six defective cars.
"Drink-driving was also an area where the public assistance became increasingly invaluable. Not only have people contacted Traffic Watch but there has also been a large increase in the number of people contacting their local Garda stations. We have had cases where a complaint about a motorist driving under the influence has yielded a result a few days after the initial call."
However, Insp Melia, who is based in Kilkenny Garda station, stressed the initiative was only one element of the Garda's overall campaign to reduce the numbers of deaths and serious injuries on the region's roads.
Insp Melia also said there was a high level of awareness among motorists of the Traffic Watch Scheme, with 70 signs erected by the National Roads Authority throughout the region highlighting the number.
"The initiative has played an important role in the reduction of deaths on our roads. In the south eastern Region so far this year the number of deaths on our roads has fallen by five."