"Incredibly, the annual number of breath tests carried out in the last 15 years has plummeted as the number of drivers has skyrocketed."
"In 2010, the first full year for which there is breath-test data, there were 2,655,048 driving licences held in the country and 566,760 breath tests were carried out, resulting in 10,308 arrests for drink driving. In 2025 there were 3,538,732 licences held but only 189,736 breath tests carried out, resulting in 4,867 arrests for drink driving."
"Alcohol is involved in over a third of driver deaths on our roads. Almost one in eight drivers [12pc] admit to drink driving in the past 12 months. That's around 424,500 people a year, or 1,160 a day, taking a lethal weapon on to our roads after drinking. And the percentage of people admitting to drink driving is rising, up from 9pc in 2021."
"During the Christmas road safety campaign carried out by gardaí, from December 1 to January 5, 765 drivers were arrested for suspected drink driving."
Last year recorded 190 road fatalities in Ireland, the highest since 2014. This year has 58 deaths to date. Campaigners report that 37% of drink-driving court cases do not lead to convictions. Alcohol Action Ireland calls for a dramatic increase in breath tests and spot testing. Breath-test numbers have fallen over 15 years while the number of drivers has increased. In 2010, 566,760 breath tests were carried out among 2,655,048 driving licences, leading to 10,308 arrests. In 2025, 189,736 breath tests were carried out among 3,538,732 licences, leading to 4,867 arrests. Alcohol is involved in over a third of driver deaths, and 12% of drivers admit to drink driving in the past 12 months. During a Christmas campaign, 765 drivers were arrested for suspected drink driving.
Read at Irish Independent
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