March 16, 2023

kick drink driving to touch this St. Patrick’s weekend

Former Irish rugby international Tommy Bowe is calling on motorists, but particularly younger drivers, to kick drink driving to touch this St. Patrick’s weekend and to never, ever drink and drive.

To drive home the message that drinking and driving simply do not mix, Bowe teamed up with secondary students in Dublin from St. David’s CBS, Artane and members of the Kilmore West Youth Project, Artane to show through fun and educational demonstrations the dangers of drinking and driving.

This included Bowe and students donning ‘beer goggles’, which imitate the impairment effects of alcohol, and negotiating an obstacle course in pedal ‘go-karts’.

In the last five years, 11 people have been killed and 55 people have been seriously injured on Irish roads over the St. Patrick’s bank holiday period.

Over the four day St. Patrick’s period last year (17th-21st March), 72 drink driving arrests were made while 33 people were arrested for drug driving.

Figures released by An Garda Síochána show that Year-to-date in 2023, 937 drink driving and 584 drug driving arrests have been made.

15-03-23….Pic shows Colm Breagy (16) and Husayn Ayub (16) from St David’s CBS, at the launch today (Wed) of the St. Patrick’s Weekend appeal from the RSA and An Garda Garda Síochána, together with Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman; Tommy Bowe; and Sam Waide, Chief Executive Officer, Road Safety Authority. Pic. Keith Arkins

Tommy Bowe commented: “Today I was able to experience first-hand, in a safe and controlled space, the impairment effects of alcohol on driving. It was very sobering. 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.”

Sam Waide, CEO of the Road Safety Authority, added: “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 per cent of fatalities are 35 years of age or younger. For the whole of last year, this age group accounted for 32 per cent of fatalities.”