Appeal to Mayo motorists ahead of Bank Holiday weekend
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána are appealing to the public to use the roads with care over the St. Patrick’s Bank Holiday weekend.
This appeal comes against the backdrop of high numbers of road fatalities in 2024.
Provisional analysis from the RSA shows that 42 lives have been lost on Irish roads to date this year, three more than on this date last year (as of March 14, 2024).
The RSA and An Garda Síochána are reminding all road users to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Ahead of the national holiday, drivers and all other road users are being reminded to plan ahead and organise a safe way home when celebrating over the coming days.
This means leaving the car and the keys at home, arranging a lift, agreeing a designated driver, booking a taxi, or taking public transport. Walking home or cycling under the influence of alcohol or drugs can also put you and other road users at risk.
Gardai statistics show that:
•During 2023 one driver was arrested every hour on suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant - alcohol or drugs.
•Over St. Patrick's Weekend 2023, 196 drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant - 136 alcohol and 60 drugs.
•Drug driving accounted for over 35% of all driving while intoxicated detections in 2023.
•Cannabis and cocaine remain the main drugs identified.
•To date in 2024 up to the 29 February, over 1,300 drivers have been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant - alcohol or drugs.
The appeal comes as the RSA’s Driver Attitudes & Behaviour Survey 2023 found that one in four (26%) motorists believe that driving short distances after having a drink is acceptable, and one in ten report driving after drinking alcohol in the last 12 months.
The survey also reveals that nearly a quarter (23%) of drivers have admitted there were times where they may have been over the limit when driving on the morning after a night out.
To coincide with this Bank Holiday appeal, the RSA’s ‘SAY IT’ campaign will continue to run over the Bank Holiday weekend, with a specific focus on alcohol.
The 'SAY IT’ campaign encourages people to speak up when they see unsafe behaviours by family or friends on the roads.
Jack Chambers, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, said: “I am deeply concerned by the findings that people have admitted to driving while they may have been over the limit after a night out.
"This bank holiday weekend I am urging motorists to make responsible choices before getting behind the wheel after celebrating St Patrick’s Day.
"With the holiday falling on a Sunday, people who are away for the weekend may be travelling back on the Monday.
"We all need to keep our roads safe, and I am also appealing to people not to get behind the wheel if they have been celebrating heavily the night before.”