Upon being stopped, the driver was arrested for dangerous driving. The car was seized under Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act. Furthermore, the driver refused to provide blood or urine samples at the local garda station, leading to additional charges.

A garda spokesperson highlighted the severity of the offense and urged all motorists to adhere to road safety regulations, especially with the upcoming bank holiday weekend. The spokesperson stated, “The driver was charged for these offenses and issued a Fixed Charge Penalty Notice for not being accompanied by a full licence driver. We ask all road users to be mindful of others on the road.”

New RSA Campaign Targets Dangerous Driving Behaviors

The RSA’s campaign, which includes six radio adverts running on digital audio platforms, will continue until the end of August. These adverts were developed using feedback from in-depth research and focus groups, particularly targeting younger male drivers on rural roads. Minister of State at the Department of Transport, James Lawless, emphasized the campaign’s importance, highlighting new measures introduced in the Road Traffic Act 2024. These measures include harsher penalties, safer speed limits, and mandatory roadside drug testing for drivers involved in serious collisions.

RSA Chairperson Liz O’Donnell stressed that dangerous driving behaviors, such as speeding, intoxication, and non-wearing of seatbelts, are significant contributors to road fatalities. She cited the 2023 Free Speed observational study, which revealed that half of the drivers exceeded speed limits of 30km, 50km, and 60km/h. The acceptability of speeding has remained high since 2020, contributing to the problem.

To date, there have been 101 road fatalities in Ireland this year, 14 more than the same period last year. The RSA’s drink driving adverts feature autopsy reports attributing deaths to drink driving, while speeding adverts liken speeding to a serial killer and challenge the mindset of those who speed because they “know the road.” The campaign also includes adverts from 2023 addressing the effects of drugs on drivers and the dangers of using mobile phones while driving.

Chief Executive of the RSA, Sam Waide, pointed out that one in ten drivers admitted to drink driving in 2023, with surveys indicating a higher social acceptability of drink driving in recent years. Moreover, coronial data from 2015-2019 showed that 37% of driver fatalities had a positive toxicology for alcohol.

The RSA’s campaign is a crucial step in raising awareness and tackling dangerous driving behaviours, aiming to make Irish roads safer for all.