A woman whose son died in a drink driving crash has said plans for breathalyser terminals in hotels are a “slap in the face” for families. 

The RSA plans to spend €1.5 million on installing 20 terminals in hotels, pubs and sports venues across the country, which allow drivers to check their legal limit before getting behind the wheel. 

The move comes after research revealed that many pubgoers were unaware they were over the limit before a breathalyser test and had planned to drive home. 

On The Claire Byrne Show, Christina Donnelly, whose son Brendan died in a crash in 2009, said she was horrified by the decision. 

“I think personally that this money could be invested in other areas which would, for road safety, where it would preserve deaths on our roads and life changing injuries,” she argued. 

“All those involved in striving to reduce death and serious injuries on our roads, have always said it's zero tolerance. 

“I still believe and agree it is zero tolerance because there is no excuse for even one drink.

“We have allocated drivers, we have taxi drivers, we have other ways of getting to our homes if any form of alcohol is consumed without taking chances.” 

Gardaí at the scene of a crash. Picture by: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo.

Ms Donnelly continued that the move is a “slap in the face for all the hard work that road safety campaigners have done”. 

Instead, she said that anyone who has had a drink should never get behind the wheel of a car. 

“No chances can be taken,” she continued. 

“We're still grieving on a daily basis and we pick up the newspapers and listen to the radio about yet another life lost on our road. 

“I'm not saying this is to do with alcohol, but a percentage of those will have, most probably, have had alcohol taken.”

Ms Donnelly added that not drinking before driving is a “small ask” given the potential fatal consequences. 

“It's as simple as that,” she said. 

“We're talking about lives, we're talking about serious injuries, catastrophic injuries.

“And is it really worth it to have that one drink when, as I said, we have allocated drivers another way of getting around? It's just not worth it.”

So far this year, 148 people have died on Ireland's roads; 10 more than died during the same period in 2025.

Main image: A member of An Garda Síochána places flowers after a crash. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie.