Brought to you in association with Expert Laois
Another Electric Picnic has come to an end and the big move out of Stradbally is well underway.
As 57,000 people make their way home, Gardai have released a safety message to ensure everyone gets there in one piece.
They said: “Road safety is everyone’s responsibility.
“Many people will be travelling by car to and from Electric Picnic. A dedicated Traffic management plan is in place for the event and we remind all motorist to abide by same.
“From a road safety perspective our priority is to ensure that people who travel to event are not put at risk by the minority of drivers who drive while under the influence of an intoxicant.
“Members of the Garda Roads Policing Unit will be conducting roadside screening at Mandatory Intoxicant Testing checkpoints on routes to and from Stradbally over the weekend and on Monday.
“The roadside test for drugs has enabled members of the roads policing units to identify those drivers who are under the influence of drugs.
“An Garda Síochána have the power to test drivers for the presence of Cannabis, Cocaine, Opiates (e.g. Morphine) and Benzodiazepines (e.g. Valium). Cannabis has been the most common illegal drug detected in drivers in 2018.
“There has been a 15% increase in DUI arrests (alcohol or drugs) in first four months of 2019.
“To date in 2019 a total of 95 people have died on the roads, which is four more than the same period in 2018.
“The penalty for drug driving is the same as for drink driving – a maximum of €5,000 fine and up to 6 months imprisonment with disqualification periods of up to 4 years for a first offence and 6 years for a second or subsequent offence.
“Don’t get into a car with anyone who has been drinking and if possible stop them from driving. Plan for your journey home on Monday.
“If driving the morning after remember that 11% of fatal collisions in which a driver had consumed alcohol occurred between the hours of 7am and 11am.
“A general rule states that it takes an hour for the effects of half a pint (or a glass of wine) to wear off. It takes your body one hour to process one standard drink and there’s no quick fix.
“Common examples of one standard drink include a half pint of beer / glass of wine (100ml) / pub measure of spirits (35.5ml).
“There is nothing you can do to remove alcohol from your body any quicker, only time. Common myths are that drinking coffee or having a shower will sober you up but these are simply not true.
“Even then it’s safer to avoid drinking.”
Get home safe all!
SEE ALSO – Dear Electric Picnic Acts – You are not in Dublin!
