Rugby ace Tommy Bowe has teamed up with the RSA to ensure motorists kick drink driving over the St Patrick’s weekend - after 11 were killed over the period in the last five years.
The former Irish International and Ireland AM presenter urged punters to leave their keys at home and plan how to get back safely if they’re out celebrating the festivities.
Bowe also met with students from St David’s CBS in Artane yesterday and they wore “beer goggles” to simulate the effects of drink driving in pedal go-karts.
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He said: “Any amount of alcohol can impair driving so it’s just not worth the risk. If you are planning to drink over the St. Patrick’s weekend, leave the keys at home and plan how you are going to get home safely.
“Designate a driver, hire a minibus if heading out with a group of friends, use a taxi, hackney, or public transport if available.
“Remember to do the right thing the next morning too, as you may still have alcohol in your body, making you unsafe to drive.”
Sobering data from the RSA also showed that 55 people have also been seriously injured over the St Patrick’s weekend in the last five years.
A study from 2022 also found that 1 in 4 motorists admitted: “there were times when they may have been over the limit when driving the morning after a night out”.
Figures released by the Gardai over the four-day period between March 17 and 21 last year resulted in 72 drink driving arrests and 33 drug-driving arrests.
While there were 34 arrests made after morning detections between 6 am and 12 noon for drink or drug driving over the same period.
Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman, Roads Policing and Community Engagement said: “There were 72 drivers arrested for drink driving and 33 arrested for drug driving over the St. Patrick’s weekend in 2022.
“The consequences of choosing to drink and drive are stark. You could cause a collision, you could cause a fatality and you could cause your own disqualification as a driver. All drink driving offences carry a period of disqualification.
“Think what this could mean for you for your job and lifestyle. Think about what it could mean to carry the burden of causing another person to lose their life.”
While RSA boss Sam Waide urged younger drivers to pay particular care on the road.
He said: “There is a particular need for younger people to make good choices when using the roads this weekend, including avoiding driving while impaired, through drink or drugs or a combination of both.
“Figures for 2023 to date indicate that 50% of fatalities are 35 years of age or younger. For the whole of last year, this age group accounted for 32% of fatalities.”
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