One driver was arrested seven times for drink driving last year, according to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety.

In its annual report, the bureau notes that some 265 drivers were arrested for intoxicated driving last year.

The report warns that alcohol and drugs continue to be a major problem on the roads – with offenders ranging in age from 13 to 90 years old.

It also shows that the highest alcohol level detected last year was in a driver who was almost nine times over the legal limit.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Sunday Independent Motoring Editor Geraldine Herbert said the figures are “really worrying”.

She said it “seems extraordinary” to hear that one person was arrested seven times for drink driving but warned “it wasn't just a one off”.

“Twenty-two people were arrested three times and, I mean, there's a long list of those,” she said.

Worrying

She said there are a “number of worrying things” in the report.

“I think the really worrying thing is that very little has changed over the past ten years,” she said.

“There is an issue with repeat offenders and also those who are arrested seem to be either very drunk or are well in excess of the minimum levels for drugs also.

“So, you know, we seem to be, generally, over the last decade, having a trend towards moving away from speeding away and from all of these things - even though we have had numbers go quite high in the last two years, generally the trends are good - but with drink driving. It doesn't seem to be good.”

Drink Driving

Ms Herbert said the figures suggest that the message regarding the dangers of drunk drivers “is simply not getting through” to young people.

“I know it's very difficult to target that particular age group, particularly with media becoming more and more fragment fragmented,” she said.

“But I mean, something needs to be done.

“I know the RSA, at the moment, are running campaigns about, if you lose your license, you lose your independence.

“I think the big issue with drink driving is that you put your life at risk and you put the lives of passengers at risk as well.

“You know, I think we need to hammer home that message a bit clearer than just, ‘If you lose your license, it'll be an inconvenience.’”

Medical Bureau of Road Safety

The report notes that two drivers were arrested five times for driving under the influence, while six were arrested four times and 22 were arrested three times.

According to the report, alcohol remains the most common intoxicant detected in the drivers.

Cannabis, cocaine and benzodiazepines were the three most commonly detected intoxicants after alcohol.

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