With the Bank Holiday weekend fast approaching, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is reminding drivers across the country to never, ever drink and drive.
Research presented by the RSA earlier this year shows that while many people believe drink-driving is a problem of the past, as many as one in ten drivers admit to drinking before driving.
The study also found that one-third of those drivers had consumed two or more drinks before getting behind the wheel.
The RSA is warning drivers that, in addition to the risk of killing or seriously injuring someone, drink-drivers are now more likely to be caught than ever.
Gardaí now test for drink-driving at checkpoints, after serious collisions and when stopping drivers for other alleged offences like speeding.
Anyone caught drink-driving faces the prospect of prosecution, losing their licence and seeing their name appear in the local paper.
Drink-driving is socially unacceptable in Ireland – nobody has the right to put others in danger due to their own poor decisions.
Penalties
Anyone caught drink-driving could be banned from driving for between three months and six years depending on their licence classification, the level of alcohol detected and whether it is their first offence.Professional drivers caught with a blood alcohol level of more than 20mg face a minimum three-month driving disqualification and €200 fine.
Refusing to give a sample to gardaí is a serious offence which can lead to disqualification for up to six years, a fine and potentially imprisonment.
The effects of alcohol
Drinking impacts your ability to drive in a range of ways – putting your safety and that of others at serious risk.
Drinking slows your reaction times, reduces your ability to react to hazards, impairs your ability to multitask and leads to poor judgement on the road.
It can also reduce your attention span, impact your sight and hearing and create over-confidence – leaving you more likely to take dangerous risks.
Plan ahead
The RSA is reminding people that you may still be over the limit the morning after drinking.
If you know you will be going for a few drinks, it is important to plan how you are getting home – book a taxi, arrange a lift or use public transport.
Keep your friends and family safe by ensuring they have safe transport home when drinking – if you see a friend or family member about to drink-drive, speak up.
Never, ever accept a lift from someone who has been drinking.
Legal drink-driving limits
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is a measurement of the amount of alcohol in your blood. It is measured in milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
The current drink-driving limit is a BAC of 50mg. This means 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
For professional, learner and novice drivers the limit is a BAC of 20mg.
