CEO Moyagh Murdock says mindset needs to change over alcohol, writes Paul Melia
Road Safety Authority (RSA) boss Moyagh Murdock is in no doubt about what is causing the mounting death toll on our roads - alcohol, and lots of it, particularly in rural Ireland.
"There is an epidemic of drink in this country," she says. "Dublin has a very low tolerance of drink driving, but rural Ireland is very different. It appears to be a way of life.
"One of the things we've seen is an attitude that one or two (drinks) is okay. Any alcohol in the system is clearly contributing significantly (to deaths). We have seen people four or five times over the legal limit.
"We have seen with the older generation that where they may have had alcohol, it is significantly lower than in the younger generation. Do younger drivers think one or two or three is not drinking?"
The most recent figures show that 86 people have been killed on the roads so far this year, up 15 on the same period of 2015.
The carnage not only carries an enormous human cost, but a financial one too - each fatality costs around €2.3m.
Source: Paul Melia, 04/07/16
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