As a society, we have not faced up to the unpalatable reality of our excessive drinking and drink-driving. At this time of the year, drink can have a devastating effect on unfortunate families. Fathers and mothers, sons and daughters never come home again. Christmas presents remain unopened. And grief, rather than happiness, infuses the festive season. It does not have to be like that.
Drink-driving does not happen by chance. It happens by choice. As the current cross-Border campaign emphasises, even one drink impairs your driving skills and makes you a potential hazard on the roads. Evidence of this reality is available in road death statistics where 28 per cent of late-night collisions occur at a time when traffic volumes operate at only 4 per cent.
In addressing the question of human culpability for road deaths, The Irish Times has accepted the advice of the National Safety Council (NSC) that the term "accident" should not generally be used in reporting such matters. Because driver behaviour contributes to 77 per cent of road deaths, to describe them as "accidents" can be inaccurate. In future, the terms "crash" or "collision" will generally be used, in line with the policies of agencies involved in road safety, including AA roadwatch.
Changing the terminology used in reporting road deaths and serious accidents is a small thing. And it may be hurtful to survivors. But altering mindsets is the least that is required in present circumstances. Politicians must establish a proper budget for road safety, make a single individual responsible and accountable and introduce an effective process. As the former chairman of the NSC, Eddie Shaw, told an Oireachtas committee before he resigned in despair at the lack of progress being made: "all politicians share in the responsibility".
By the year's end, some 380 people will have died on our roads and 3,000 will have been seriously injured. If the necessary investment and resources had been provided for road safety measures, however, about 140 of those deaths and 1,200 injuries would have been avoided. Mr Shaw made no friends in spelling out this harsh reality to politicians at Leinster House. But the proposed Road Safety Authority may benefit from his strictures.
In the meantime, the Garda Síochána will continue to operate sporadic road safety campaigns. But without a joined-up process and adequate investment, citizens will continue to die unnecessarily. Between January and October 9,050 motorists were arrested for drink-driving and more than half of them had consumed twice the legal level of alcohol. We all have a responsibility to end the carnage.