South Dublin County Council (SDCC) are supporting the Gardaí and the RSA’s intoxicated driving operations campaign.
Mayor of South Dublin Cllr Pamela Kearns said ‘‘I am delighted to be supporting this very important road safety campaign along with our colleagues in An Gárda Síochana and the Road Safety Authority for ‘ Intoxicated Driving’ Drink driving continues to be an issue in Ireland but there is another worrying trend showing a rise in the social acceptance of drink driving. Showing the stark realities of drink / drug driving, this campaign challenges the social acceptability of drink and drug driving.”
“We are appealing directly to the public to protect their friends, and other road users, by ensuring their friends do not drink or drug drive,” Kearns said.
Road Safety Officer at South Dublin County Council Orlaith Maguire said, ‘ Drink driving and driving under the influence of drugs is illegal and puts lives at risk, not just that of the driver but of all other road users. It is not possible to say how much alcohol you can drink and stay below the limit, the answer is simple if you are going to have a drink, don’t drive, leave the keys at home. According to the RSA since 2019, social acceptance of drink driving has risen by 12%. Drink driving and drug driving are a choice that you make, Let’s make the right choice!”
Inspector Michael Holihan of the National Roads Policing Bureau said ‘ An Gárda Síochana launched this Intoxicated Driving Operations campaign with mandatory Intoxicant check points taking place throughout the country, to highlight the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In 2025, 188 people tragically lost their lives on Irish Roads, that was 188 empty seats at the table. I am appealing to all road users to stop and think about road safety and their driving behaviours and asking all drivers to set a good example, by consciously choosing to not drink or use drugs when driving. There will be active checkpoints on our roads today.”
People who are caught and convicted of intoxicated driving can face mandatory disqualification from driving, penalty points or court fine or a criminal conviction that lead to no visa.