Westmeath one of the worst counties for drink and drug driving

Westmeath comes close to the top of the list for drug drivers and drunk drivers, according to figures published today.

The county comes fourth highest (behind Monaghan, Cavan and Louth), for drink driving, and second highest in the country – behind just Offaly- for drug driving detections.

An analysis of Central Statistics Office figures from the last ten years, published in today’s Irish Independent, found that in Monaghan, 98 drivers per 1,000 have been caught for drink driving. The Cavan figure is 84 per 1,000; Louth is 67 per 1,000 and next is Westmeath, with 66 per 1,000.

According to the Irish Independent, the Monaghan figure is twice the national average.

When it comes to drug driving convictions, Offaly tops the table with 3.6 detections per 1,000 drivers, and Westmeath comes in next with 3.2 per 1,000.

A table prepared by the newspaper shows that there are 50,072 driving licences in Westmeath. Some 3,343 have been convicted of drink driving offences in the last ten years, and 162 of drug driving.