‘Do not let a stupid driving decision change your future - some countries may not let you in with a conviction'
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has launched a new campaign confronting the issue of drug-driving in Ireland which puts a spotlight on the serious and life-altering consequences of driving under the influence of drugs – including the loss of employment, restrictions on international travel, and the impact on personal relationships.
The launch coincides with the May Bank Holiday Road Safety Appeal and gardaí will be stepping up roadside enforcement nationwide during this bank holiday weekend.
Sarah O'Connor, Director of Partnerships and External Affairs at the RSA, is warning people not to drive under the influence of drugs, as users could lose more than their licence.
'What would it feel like if you couldn't drive your daughter to school?
"What would it feel like if your mum and dad were very ashamed and embarrassed of what you had done and were very disappointed in you as a person? Or additionally, what are the real ramifications in terms of sentencing your future travel plans and potentially losing your licence or other ramifications?
'If you plan to go abroad, a number of key countries that Irish people, particularly young people, really want to go to. They view it as their life plan in their 20s and in their 30s to go to Australia, to Canada, America, all of those, you may be quite hampered if you have a drug driving conflict.
'If you are planning on travelling to America, Australia or Canada and you have a drug driving conviction, you may face additional hurdles to be able to travel to that country or you may not be able to travel at all.
'In addition, China, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates also consider a drug driving condition to be phenomenally serious if you're applying for a visa, if you want to travel there, or if you want to work there. Those are on the wish list for a lot of young people.
'Do not let a stupid decision around drugs and driving change your future. Do not allow it to have you sitting at home missing out on the fun with your friends.'
When asked if cyclists could also be stopped by gardaí this weekend, Paula Hilman, Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing and Community Engagement at An Garda Síochána, said that 'the simple answer is yes.'
'The regular cyclist is a very vulnerable category because they have no protection and the cyclists must adhere to the rules of the road, just like a car or a lorry.
'If a cyclist is going through a red light, that is not only causing a danger to themselves but to other people using the roads. So yes, is the simple answer to that.
'Already this year, since January we have arrested over 800 people for driving under the influence of drugs at the roadside. Approximately half of those are under the age of 30.
'I cannot emphasise enough that the danger that you're putting yourself in, the danger you're putting on the road users in; it totally affects your ability to drive safely on our roads. The risk you're taking is not worth it.
'You do not want to be responsible for injuring yourself, perhaps killing another person because you took that chance of driving whilst under the influence of drugs.
'Taking illegal drugs is an offence to start off with, then when you have the audacity to get in behind the wheel of a car and drive, it's absolute madness.'
This weekend, gardaí will be out in force all around the country.
'You'll see high visibility. There will be checkpoints, there will be mandatory intoxicant checkpoints where drivers will be pulled over and tested randomly for both alcohol and drugs,' Hilman added.
'We're also policing in a different style. We have unmarked vehicles. It's not just a case of being visible, it's about changing driver behaviour.
'People have to understand that the vehicle in front or behind you may be a guarded vehicle.'
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