Danny Healy-Rae makes more dangerously ill-informed comments about drink driving

Danny Healy-Rae, the Independent TD from Kerry, has made more controversial remarks about drink driving.

Danny Healy-Rae has claimed that having up to a pint-and-a-half before sitting behind the wheel of a car would not cause an accident. Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, the Kerry politician said that a new campaign warning against the dangers of driving the morning after drinking would lead to 'social isolation' for people in rural communities.

“We need to get clarity on what level of milligrams we’re talking about," he said.

Healy-Rae claimed that anyone with between 50mgs and 80mgs of alcohol in their bloodstream would not cause a road accident. “My contention is that anyone in that bracket wouldn’t cause a fatality or an accident.” Earlier this year, Healy-Rae claimed that eating a big meal before driving was as dangerous as consuming alcohol. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the Gardaí have launched a campaign to make people aware that they may not be safe to drive the morning after a night out.

Transport Minister Shane Ross said: “Drivers need to be aware that they may not be safe to drive the morning after a night out, as they may still have alcohol in their system.

“As such, it is critical that drivers take measures to ensure their safety and the safety of others and this means leaving the car at home and making alternative arrangements for the morning after if they need to get somewhere.”

Healy-Rae was reacting to reports that up to 11% of fatal crashes - involving alcohol - take place between 7am and 11am.