One in ten people surveyed by RSA admit to drink-driving
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One in 10 people responding to a survey have admitted to driving after having at least one drink in the last year.
The detail was revealed in a Behaviour and Attitudes survey undertaken for the Road Safety Authority (RSA). The survey findings were described as "worrying" by Road Safety Minister Jack Chambers.
Of those who had consumed alcohol before getting behind the wheel, almost one in three (28%) admitted to having two or more drinks, and 13% said that they would be fine to drive after three or more drinks.
Further details published by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) found that the average blood alcohol level in Ireland for those caught driving under the influence was 160mg per 100ml of blood — more than three times the legal limit.
One driver was found to have a blood alcohol content of 439mg per 100ml, over eight times the legal limit.
Mr Chambers said there had been a “softening of attitudes around drink driving".
"The data is really worrying and concerning," he said.
Mr Chambers said that the Government would be using the evidence to target specific campaigns on intoxicated driving, but noted that there was already a similarly worrying rise in drug driving.
He noted that one of the things that needs to happen in 2024 is visible improvement and enforcement.
“Anyone who takes that risk and believes it is acceptable can be targeted and brought to justice for breaking the law, for putting their own lives and other lives at risk.”
The seminar heard from the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) that Ireland’s rate of roadside drunk-driving or breathalyser tests was among the lowest in Europe.
A total of 46,165 testing checkpoints were conducted in 2023, leading to 8,863 arrests for driving while intoxicated — around 24 per day on average.
However, of the people who had admitted to drink driving in the past 12 months, 88% said that they had not done a breathalyser test in that period.