Drink driving stigma in decline in Ireland, survey finds

Stigma around drink driving in Ireland is now in decline, according to new data measuring social attitudes among drivers.

In an era of rising road fatalities, fewer motorists today believe driving with alcohol is unacceptable than did four years ago, while a quarter feel local journeys taken after a drink are okay.

Annual tracking data from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) show while 73 per cent of people said driving under the influence was unacceptable among friends and peers, that rate is down 12 per cent since 2019.

One in 10 Irish motorists admitted to driving in the last 12 months having consumed alcohol, the highest level since 2015.

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However, Velma Burns, the RSA’s research manager, believes that may be understated. The proportion of those who believe it acceptable to drive “short distances in your local area” after consuming one drink stood at 26 per cent.

“I think this gives us the sense that perhaps that one in ten [statistic] is understating it,” she told an RSA seminar on drink driving on Friday.

“Because if you believe that it is acceptable to drive short distances in your local area after consuming one alcoholic drink, chances are you are doing it. So one in four is really high here and it is very concerning.”

Of those who admitted consuming alcohol, the incidence was higher among male drivers and those who drive for work (both at 14 per cent). It was also found to be at 24 per cent for those who had a history of collisions.

The findings were drawn from an RSA commissioned Behaviour and Attitudes poll of 1,252 drivers on a national representative basis.

Addressing the conference, Prof Denis Cusack, director of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) said the high level of alcohol consumed among those caught was of concern.

“Alcohol is still the biggest drug driving problem, it hasn’t gone away,” he said. “The samples we see are way over the limit. [When] people are drunk driving, they are really drunk driving.”

Latest data from the MBRS shows that while the legal limit for alcohol is 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, the average level detected among offenders is 160mg. Medical data shows that at that level, drivers would typically demonstrate drunkenness, slurred speech, staggered gait and impaired co-ordination.

“In fact that blood alcohol maximum level we found last year was actually 439,” said Mr Cusack, a level beyond that linked to unconsciousness, coma and possible death.

Toxicology tests show that alcohol is detected in more than a third of drivers (37 per cent) killed in crashes.

Minister of State with responsibility for road safety Jack Chambers said attitudes towards intoxicated driving must form part of the focus for the year ahead, including through greater enforcement.

“I think there’s a worrying softening of attitudes towards drink and drug driving and people are taking the risk,” he said.

Of those surveyed by the RSA, 86 per cent said they had not been checked for alcohol by gardaí in the preceding 12 months.

Since 2011, drink driving deaths have decreased at a greater pace across Europe than other causes of road fatalities.

Much of the seminar dealt with promoting the future roll-out of alcohol interlocks, devices fitted to vehicles that prevent the engine starting when the driver fails a built-in breath test. A report on a possible pilot programme for their use in Ireland is due in March.

This year, eight European countries have active legislation for the use of interlock devices; they are used voluntarily in three and there are discussions ongoing in two, including Ireland.

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