One in four drivers in Ireland have admitted they have gotten in behind the wheel while over the legal alcohol limit the morning after a night out. The new findings highlight the dangers faced by other road users, including cyclists, in the mornings especially at weekends when socialising rates tend to increase.
The worrying conclusions of the new motorists' survey come at a time when road deaths in the Republic are much higher than last year. Some 37 people have been killed on the roads so far in 2022, up 20 deaths on the same period in 2021.
The new survey of 1,220 motorists has
been conducted by the Road Safety Authority, which has published the main
findings ahead of the St Patrick’s Day Bank Holiday in a bid to persuade
drivers to comply with road traffic laws.
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The new ‘Driver Attitude and Behaviour
Survey’ was conducted in November, and the main findings include:
- 9 per cent of motorists indicated they had consumed alcohol before driving in the past 12 months
- 34 per cent of motorists had two or more drinks before doing so
- 1 in 4 motorists (26%) agree ‘there were times when they may have been over the limit when driving the morning after a night out’
- 1 in 4 motorists agree (26%) ‘it is acceptable to drive short distances in your local area after consuming one alcoholic drink’
- 48 per cent of motorists admitted to travelling as a passenger in a car where they knew the driver had consumed alcohol.
- 74 cent agree that one alcoholic drink can impair driving
Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman, who leads the Roads Policing department in An Garda Síochána, said her colleagues would be out this weekend in a bid to catch motorists who are driving over the legal alcohol limit.
"Our priority is to keep people safe and prevent death and injury on our roads. I would appeal to those of you who are socialising and consuming alcohol to leave your car at home or designate a driver and remember you may still be over the limit the morning after,” she said.
“We must change
the current trends we are seeing in road fatalities in 2022. Too many families
have already lost loved ones this year. An Garda Síochána are pleading with
people to stop taking risks, make the right decisions and never ever drive
while under the influence of alcohol.”
