Almost 10,000 festival goers use Electric Picnic breathalysers

Almost 10,000 festival goers use Electric Picnic breathalysers

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Nearly 10,000 breathalysers were used by festival goers following Electric Picnic last month.

In partnership with the Road Safety Authority, the festival's organisers had set up Flinebox breathalysers at four car park stations at Stradbally. 

This device uses the Drager alcohol sensor technology which sees motorists blow into a straw. Results are then on the screen after 10 seconds. The information then showed whether the motorist could drive, and if they were above the alcohol limit provide a waiting time for when they can get behind the wheel. 

Some 13% (9,704) of festival goers used the breathalysers. Those who used it were between the ages of under 18 to over 74 years old. 

Over half (56%) of the device users were male, 43% were female and 1% were non-binary. 

Organisers added the Flineboxes saw a higher use between Sunday evening and Monday until lunchtime as people left the festival grounds. 

RSA director of partnerships and external affairs Sara O'Connor said they were "heartened to see a high level of engagement from so many people who checked that they were safe to drive before leaving". 

"Feedback from attendees was extremely positive and we were amazed to hear from festival-goers that there was a lack of understanding around the strength of alcoholic drinks and the number of alcohol measures that impact alcohol limit breathalyser readings," she said. 

It comes as gardaí carry out a 24-hour operation to clamp down on speeding motorists across national roads on Monday. 

Gardaí have been carrying out 24-hour operation to clamp down on speeding on Monday. 

GoSafe checked the speeds of more than 29,000 vehicles and detected 72 vehicles travelling over the speed limit in the first five hours of National Slow Down Day. 

In Cork, one motorist was found travelling at 75km/h in a 50km/h zone on the Rochestown Road.

The operation will remain in place until 7am on Tuesday. 

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