Near miss for baby girl as drunk driver mounts pavement

Police consider stricter alcohol limits

A DRUNK driver almost killed a Paphos toddler on Sunday night when he swerved off course and mounted the pavement, police said yesterday.

The incident took place at around 8.40pm on Ayios Antoniou Street in Kato Paphos.

Police said the motorist swerved off course and drove up onto the pavement, hitting the 20-month-old girl’s pram while she and her parents were out for stroll, and finally crashed into an electricity pole where his vehicle came to a standstill.

Both the little girl and driver were taken to Paphos general hospital where they received first aid and were released.

The motorist was subjected to an alcohol test where he tested positive for a blood alcohol level of 109mg instead of the legal limit of 22mg. He was arrested and remanded in custody, police said.

With one in six road deaths attributed to drink driving police were yesterday considering introducing stricter measures to clampdown on the phenomenon.

Speaking to reporters Traffic Police Chief Doros Achilleos said driving under the influence of alcohol was one of the island’s main causes of fatal and serious road accidents.

This weekend alone four accidents were caused due to drinking over the legal limit, one of which proved fatal, he said.

From Friday to Monday police launched a drink driving campaign during which time a total 1,604 motorists were screened for driving over the legal limit. Over 100 drivers were found culpable, including 97 men and 15 women.

Achilleos said a total 98,375 breathalyser tests had been carried out from the beginning of the year. From that number 5,698 motorists were found driving over the legal limit.

Reports said police were increasingly concerned about Cypriot motorists disregard from drink driving laws, with thoughts of reducing the legal limit further. Up until March 2006 the legal drinking limit was 39mg. It was then reduced to 22mg. Since then there has been a severe crackdown on drink driving from authorities with police championing a zero tolerance policy.

Cyprus has committed to halving its road fatalities by 2010. The scheme is part of a wider EU campaign.

So far there have been 54 road deaths in Cyprus this year.

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