More than 7,000 people have been arrested for drink- and drug-driving so far this year, according to figures from a multi-agency survey.
This equates to one driver offending every hour of every day, according to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) survey, which also identified “deeply concerning” attitudes among motorists in relation to driving under the influence.
Up to 11 per cent of motorists have driven after having a drink in the last 12 months, the survey found, with 25 per cent saying it is acceptable to drive short distances after consuming one drink. The research was published as the bureau, An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) announced a Christmas and New Year safety campaign.
Based at University College Dublin, the MBRS is the statutory body responsible for chemical testing of intoxicants in driving in Ireland.
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Fourteen people died on Irish roads last December and 124 were seriously injured. So far this year, there have been 165 people killed on Irish roads, five fewer than the same period in 2023.
According to the MBRS, the average blood alcohol concentration of those returning positive results for drink driving this year has been 152mg of alcohol per 100ml blood, three times the legal limit of 50mg per 100ml.
The highest blood alcohol concentration detected was 427mg per 100ml blood, 8½ times the legal limit. The average blood level of testing positive for cannabis and cocaine last year wassix times the legal limit.
The bureau has recently approved two Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices (AIIDs) which prevent a vehicle from starting if the driver has consumed alcohol. These devices are being used by haulage companies, private and public transport fleets and DUI Offender Compliance Programmes.
MBRS director Prof Denis Cusack said drivers intoxicated with alcohol and other drugs continue to be a major crash risk.
“Intoxicated driving causing deaths and serious injuries is often in combination with other risk-taking behaviours including speeding, careless and dangerous driving, distracted driving including mobile phone use and the non-wearing of seat safety belts,” he said.
“It is deeply concerning to see the high number of test results being significantly over the legal limits. Intoxicated driving significantly inhibits a driver’s ability to use the roads safely, putting themselves and all other road users at serious risk. The development of alcohol interlock devices to stop drunk driving has great potential to reduce this danger.”
RSA chief executive Sam Waide said Ireland has “witnessed first-hand the tragic consequences and heard the heartbreaking stories of families and communities devastated by road collisions this year”.
Mr Waide said 84 per cent of those who died so far this year on the roads were fatally injured on rural stretches they were “less familiar” with. He said people aged under-25 mostly likely to flout the law when it comes to drink- and drug-driving.
To date this year, An Garda Síochána has carried out more than 100,000 drink- and drug-driving checkpoints, an average of 300 per day. Figures show that alcohol breath tests have increased by 26 per cent over last year, and oral fluid tests (Drugs) have risen by 57 per cent.
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