Never ever drink and drive.
The Road Safety Authority of Authority have released some startling figures regarding the levels of drunk driving on Irish roads. In a recent study by the RSA, they discovered that alcohol was a contributing factor in 38% of road collisions between 2008 and 2012.
The forensic details of 867 fatal collisions were analysed to identify the cause of the collisions – of these, alcohol was a main contributory factor in 2 in 5 collisions, claiming the lives of 286 people. A further 69 people were seriously injured.
The counties where alcohol featured most as a contributory factor in collisions were counties Cork (10.6%), Galway (9.7%), Dublin (7.9%) and Donegal (7.6%).
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, TD, said: “This important report highlights that Ireland continues to have a problem with alcohol and road use. The consequences are having a devastating effect in our communities. We must continue educating drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and passengers about the very real dangers and consequences of making the bad decision to use the road after consuming alcohol.”
The RSA and An Garda Síochána have the following advice for people heading out for a few drinks over the bank holiday weekend:
- Plan ahead. Make sure you know how you’re getting home, whether by taxi, with a designated driver or public transport.
- Don’t walk home if you’re drunk. Half of pedestrians killed on our roads have consumed alcohol.
- Never ever drink and drive. Any amount of alcohol impairs your driving so either leave the car at home and arrange alternative transport, or stick to the soft drinks.
- Don’t forget that you could still be over the limit the next morning so take the necessary precautions. It takes roughly one hour for your body to get rid of one unit of alcohol which is a half pint or a standard glass of wine, so if you got to bed late and didn’t get a good night’ sleep, the effect of the alcohol will be more significant.
- 1 in 10 drink driving arrests happen between 8am and 2pm so if you have had a heavy night out, leave the car at home.
- Passengers are reminded to wear seatbelts and to understand that there is a close link between alcohol consumption and the non-wearing of seatbelts in fatality statistics
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