MYTH: Only drunk drivers are involved in traffic collisions

DRINK DRIVING FACT:

• 1 in 5 drivers killed on our roads, where alcohol was present, were under the legal limit when they died.

MYTH: Alcohol is not a significant issue in traffic collisions

DRINK DRIVING FACTS:

• Alcohol is estimated to be a contributory factor in 1 in 3 fatal collisions.
• In 1 in 4 fatal crashes, the driver had consumed alcohol
• The most common contributory factor in all fatal collisions occurring between 2001 and 2004 in the Republic’s border counties and Meath was the consumption of alcohol (37.4%).
• Between 1990 and 2006 there were a total of 7,078 people killed on the roads of which 2,462 (35%) were alcohol related.

MYTH: It’s ok to drive after a couple of drinks. I’ve always driven after taking a drink or two. It makes no difference.

DRINK DRIVING FACTS:

• Any alcohol impairs driving and increases the risk of collision.
• At the current limit (0.08) drivers are six times more at risk of having a collision. At half the current limit drivers are twice as likely to be involved in a collision.
• The only safe advice is to NEVER EVER drink and drive.
• When you have a drink the alcohol hits your brain within minutes. It starts to slow down and close down your brain’s activity. So your driving skills are quickly impaired. You start to focus more on steering. You miss out on other dangers on the road - like the child about to cross.

MYTH: Testing drivers for alcohol the morning after is a waste of time

DRINK DRIVING FACTS:

• 21% of fatal road crashes that happen between 6am and 12 noon are alcohol related.
• If someone has been drinking the night before the only cure is time.

MYTH: Only young and inexperienced drivers are affected by alcohol

DRINK DRIVING FACTS:

• All drivers are affected by even one drink.
• For any given amount of alcohol consumed, young drivers are relatively more affected.

MYTH: Ireland will be the odd one out in the EU by reducing the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)*

DRINK DRIVING FACT:

• The UK (0.08) and Malta (0.09) are the only other EU countries with the same or higher drink drive level compared to Ireland.

(The amount of alcohol in your body is measured by Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC).)

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