What are public attitudes to drink driving in Ireland?

In 2006, a Road Safety Authority study asked drivers to rate drinking and driving for shamefulness on a 10-point scale (where 1=not shameful and 10=extremely shameful) and compared this behaviour with various unsocial behaviours. Over 8 out of 10 drivers surveyed rated drinking and driving as extremely shameful and indeed more so than shoplifting, adultery and tax evasion.

‘Just One’ Anti-Drink Drive Tracking (Millward Brown IMS, 2008) also shows the following attitudes to drink driving.

Support for ‘Just one drink impairs driving’

(All drivers - 2008)

‘There should be more roadside breath- testing of drink drivers’

(All drivers - 2008)

‘Penalties for drink-driving offences should be more severe’

(All drivers - 2008)

What level of public support is there for a lowering of the drink drive limit?

The findings of the Health Promotion Unit 2002 Survey found that over two thirds (67%) of adults support the proposal to lower the drink drive limit to .05.

There is also growing support for a zero limit from two thirds of drivers. Similary, 9 out of 10 drivers support such a limit being imposed on new drivers.

A recent survey of 10,000 Irish drivers has revealed that Irish motorists have no sympathy for drink drivers and would favour harsher punishments for them (AA Ireland, 2008). Over half (52%) of motorists would call the Gardaí if someone that they knew was about to drink and drive. 83% believe that drunk drivers should have their cars confiscated.

Continue reading:  Drink Driving Limits & Recommendations