Drivers urged to stay sober this Christmas amid 'concerningly high' levels of alcohol in toxicology tests

Mon, 02 Dec, 2024 - 12:34

Eva Osborne

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is urging drivers nationwide to stay safe and sober this festive season as new data from the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) showed concerningly high levels of alcohol and other drugs in driver toxicology testing.

New survey research from the RSA has also identified concerning behaviours and attitudes among motorists in relation to driving under the influence.

With December bringing holiday celebrations into full swing, the RSA, An Garda Síochána, and the MBRS are urging motorists to stay drug and alcohol free to prevent collisions and protect all road users this Christmas.

During the month of December 2023, 14 people lost their lives on Irish roads and 124 were seriously injured.

So far this year, there have been 165 people killed on Irish roads, five fewer than the same period last year.

Results of recent MBRS toxicology testing demonstrated levels several times in excess of the legal limits for driving.

These include that:

The median blood alcohol concentrate to date in 2024 was 152mg alcohol per 100ml blood (legal limit is 50mg/100ml);
The maximum blood alcohol concentration found was 427mg alcohol per 100ml blood (8.5 times the legal limit);
The mean blood level of cannabis in 2023 was 6.3ng/ml (6 times the legal limit);
The mean level of cocaine in 2023 was 60.6ng/ml (6 times the legal limit).

In a further development, the MBRS also recently approved two Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices (AIIDs) which prevent a vehicle from starting if the driver has consumed alcohol.

Professor Denis Cusack, Director of the MBRS said: “Intoxicated driving with alcohol and other drugs continues to be a major crash risk and problem on Irish roads.

"It is deeply concerning to see the high number of test results being significantly over the legal limits. Intoxicated driving significantly inhibits a driver’s ability to use the roads safely, putting themselves and all other road users at serious risk.

"The development of alcohol interlock devices to stop drunk driving has great potential to reduce this danger.”