Government to look at new motorway offence
The Minister for Justice has said that the Government must consider introducing a separate offence to cover individuals who make a deliberate decision to drive their vehicles the wrong way on a motorway.
Jim O’Callaghan was speaking after the deaths of five teenagers in a car being driven the wrong way on the M9 motorway on Sunday morning.
Their car hit a second car, resulting in injuries to three women and a seven-year-old boy, who are being treated in hospital.
Minister O’Callaghan said that he had engaged with ministerial colleagues on the issue, describing driving the wrong way on a motorway as “using a vehicle as a weapon”.
‘Lethal’ behaviour
“It is a lethal form of behaviour that can result in deaths and serious injuries, as we witnessed on the M9,” he stated.
The minister also added that he wanted to strengthen the protection available to gardaí when pursuing vehicles that will not stop.
The Garda Commissioner has said that he is introducing pursuit training for members of the force this year.
“However, no matter what laws, training or equipment are available, it will always be the case that a garda must use his or her discretion to decide whether to pursue a car driving the wrong way on a motorway,” Minister O’Callaghan said.