25% of motorists have said there were times they may have been over the drink driving limit when driving the morning after a night out, according to new data.
Gardaí have said they will have an increased presence on Irish roads this Bank Holiday weekend and have appealed to motorists not to drink and drive.
This comes following the publishing of new research by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) which shows that a quarter of motorists surveyed agreed there were times when they may have been over the drink driving limit when driving the morning after a night out.
Carried out in December 2020, the Driver Attitudes and Behaviour Survey also found that 9% of motorists admitted to consuming alcohol before driving in the past 12 months, with the figure higher amongst men (12%) than women (5%).
One in four of that 9% had two or more drinks before getting behind the wheel.
CEO of the RSA Sam Waide has said he is concerned about the numbers driving the morning after a night of drinking.
In a statement, he said: "The morning after is a real danger zone for drink driving. A previous analysis of Garda Síochána Investigation Files for fatal collisions, by the RSA, shows that 11% of fatal collisions, in which a driver had consumed alcohol, occurred between 7am and 11am.
While Waide said there is "no hard and fast rule" about when it is safe to drive the morning after a night of drinking, motorists should allow at least one hour per standard drink for the alcohol to clear their system.
He said: "A standard drink is a half-pint, a small glass of wine or a standard measure of spirits. Also, if drinking at home, you may be unknowingly consuming larger measures and therefore increasing the risk that you are unsafe to drive the following morning.
"The key is never to take chances, don’t risk it, you could end up losing your licence or worse.”
The figures have been published ahead of the June Bank Holiday weekend, with An Garda Síochána, the RSA and the Medical Bureau of Road Safety appealing to all road users not to drink and drive.
Gardaí have said they will be keeping people safe on the roads and will be visible across the country over the Bank Holiday weekend.
A total of 14 people have been killed and 64 people have been left seriously injured over June Bank Holiday weekends between 2016 and 2020.
To date in 2021, a total of 47 people have died on Irish roads, 12 fewer than the same period in 2020.
