The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has launched a road safety campaign for the Christmas period, to coincide with new data showing “concerningly high levels” of alcohol and other drugs in driver toxicology testing.
The RSA has also highlighted new survey research it carried out which it said identified “concerning behaviours and attitudes” among motorists in relation to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The RSA, An Garda SÃochána and the Medical Burueau of Road Safety (MBRS) – which provided the toxicology data – are together urging motorists to stay drug and alcohol free to prevent collisions and protect all road users this Christmas.
The road safety campaign will include advertising campaigns across TV, on demand, radio, and social media outlets over the Christmas and New Year’s period.
During this month last year, 14 people died in Irish roads and 124 were seriously injured. So far this year, there have been 156 people killed on Irish roads.
Results of MBRS testing showed levels “several times” the legal limit for driving.
These include:
- The median blood alcohol concentration to date in 2024 was 152mg per 100ml of blood (the legal limit is 50mg/100ml);
- The maximum blood alcohol concentration found was 427mg per 100ml of blood, 8.5 times the legal limit.
The MBRS also recently approved two alcohol ignition interlock devices, which prevent a vehicle from starting if the driver has consumed alcohol.
The RSA’s survey research on attitudes, which was conducted last month, found that 11% of motorists admitted to driving after consuming an acholic drink in past 12 months.
25% of motorists indicated that they thought it was acceptable to drive a short distance in your local area after consuming one alcoholic drink, according to the RSA.
Other figures from An Garda SÃochána show that, to the end of November, over 7,000 drivers have been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 56% of those were for alcohol and 44% were for drugs.
Also in the first 11 months of the year, over 184,000 fixed charge notices (FCNs) have been issued for ‘lifesaver’ offences, which are (apart from drink/drug driving) speeding; distracted driving/use of mobile phone; and failure to wear seatbelts.
Commenting on the Christmas road safety campaign, Prof. Denis Cusack, the director of the MBRS, said: “Intoxicated driving with alcohol and other drugs continues to be a major risk and problem on Irish roads. It is deeply concerning to see the high number of test results being significantly over the legal limits.
“Intoxicated driving significantly inhibits a driver’s ability to use the roads safely, putting themselves and all other road users at serious risk,” Prof. Cusack added.
Sam Waide, chief executive of the RSA, said: “We have witnessed first hand the tragic consequences and heard heartbreaking stories of families and communities devastated by road collisions this year.
“Driving under the influence of drink or drugs not only endangers your life but also puts others at risk, leading to empty seats and tables and devastation for families this Christmas,” Waide added.