Kilkenny gardaí highlight the dangers of driving the morning after consuming alcohol

Gardaí in Kilkenny are launching a road safety programme (today) to highlight the dangers of driving the morning after consuming alcohol.

Checkpoints will be mounted over the coming days to raise awareness and encourage public engagement which is hoped will prevent drivers from breaking the law over the holiday period.

Inspector Anthony Farrell, Divisional Roads Policing Inspector said that gardaí will be out in force over the festive season.
“In 2018, three people lost their lives on Kilkenny roads during the year and many more have been injured,” he said.

“At this time we as an organisation think of all families who have been affected by road injuries, especially those families who have lost loved ones.
“I will continue to do my level best to improve the safety of our roads in reaching out to people and trying to change negative driving behaviour through our four key strategic pillars, education, engagement, enforcement and engineering,” he added.
“If people are socialising over the Christmas period, be conscious that you might still be over the limit the following morning, and you should plan accordingly. On behalf of An Garda Síochána, I wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas.”

Analysis of Garda Síochána Investigation Files for fatal collisions, by the RSA, shows that 11% of fatal collisions in which a driver had consumed alcohol, occurred between the hours of 7am and 11am.

Meanwhile, national garda statistics indicate that 6% of all Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrests to date this year have taken place between 7am and 11am. The highest number of DUI arrests, at 104, occurred on a Sunday morning representing 26% of all arrests between 7am and 11am. This is followed closely by Monday, at 90 arrests, representing 22% of all morning after arrests.