New survey results from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) have revealed a concerning trend among drivers, with nearly half of those who tested their alcohol levels mistakenly believing they were under the legal limit.
The findings emerge from a six-month RSA pilot programme that ran from August 2024 to February 2025, which deployed Flinebox breathalyser kiosks across hotels, bars, and event venues in Mayo, Galway, Cork, Limerick, Laois, and Westmeath. The technology was first introduced at major events including Electric Picnic and the National Ploughing Championships.
The breathalyser kiosks provide users with an accurate alcohol reading within just 10 seconds. Users blow into a straw and immediately receive their result on screen, clearly indicating whether they are under or over the legal limit. For those over the limit, the system estimates how long it will take before they can safely drive again.
During the pilot period, over 24,000 breathalyser tests and surveys were conducted, revealing startling statistics about public perception of alcohol impairment. The data showed that 45% of people who tested over the legal alcohol limit incorrectly believed they were fit to drive. More alarmingly, 77% of these individuals had stated they intended to drive.
The survey also found that 64% of those who exceeded the blood alcohol legal limit of 0.50 g/l reported they were planning to drive. For learner or novice drivers with less than two years of experience, who face a stricter legal limit of 0.20 g/l, the implications are even more serious.
Young men aged between 18 and 34 were identified as the demographic most likely to underestimate their alcohol levels while still planning to drive.
Sarah O’Connor, Director of Partnerships and External Affairs at the RSA, emphasized that the survey highlights how “many people wrongly assume they’re under the limit when they’re not – putting themselves and others at serious risk.” She urged motorists not to “rely on guesswork when it comes to alcohol and driving” and noted that the kiosks provide a “clear, scientific measure of their alcohol levels.”
“The pilot made it clear that people struggled to understand their own level of impairment,” O’Connor stated, “but the real message is simple: if you have a drink, don’t drive.”
Venue managers have reported positive reception to the technology. Damien McManus of Loughrea Hotel and Spa noted that guests appreciated having a tool to make “informed and responsible decisions about driving.” Similarly, Mary Walsh from Broadhaven Bay Hotel highlighted the kiosk’s popularity “on nights of and the morning after events such as weddings.”
The RSA plans further deployments of the breathalyser kiosks at major events throughout the remainder of the year.