“If you feel hungover, do not get behind the wheel.”
Around one in 10 Irish people admitted that they have driven the day after a night out while possibly still over the legal blood-alcohol limit.
The data was revealed in a survey published by the AA on Thursday (20 January).
Those who admitted to driving while possibly over the limit had done so in the past year.
The survey also asked the 5,304 respondents if they had travelled with someone who they believed was over the limit in the past year.
3% said they had, and 16% said they weren’t sure.
“Many people associate drink-driving with this idea that someone goes on a night out, drinks alcohol and then drives home,” said Anna Cullen from AA Ireland.
“But, people might get up for work early the next morning and think they are okay to drive a vehicle, when they more than likely are not. They are not aware of the dangers posed by driving the next day while still over the limit.”
“Everyone breaks down alcohol differently and the time to bring you back under the legal blood alcohol limit will vary.
“Nothing will help you process the alcohol faster, only time.
“Our advice is simple: if you feel hungover, do not get behind the wheel. Wait or use alternative transport,” she added.
The Road Safety Authority had proposed to publish details online of drivers disqualified by the courts.
42% of those surveyed by AA Ireland ‘”strongly supported” the motion, with 34% “somewhat” supporting it.
When asked if it would affect their driving behaviour, 69% said naming and shaming would not because they “never drink and drive anyway”, with 19% saying it would affect their driving behaviour and 12% saying “maybe”.
While the RSA found there was minimal evidence to support the introduction of a register for all disqualified drivers, the agency said there may be merit in creating a register for commercial vehicle drivers specifically.
The RSA aims to reduce all deaths on the road by 50% by 2030 through their Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030.
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