Almost 50% of individuals who took roadside breath tests incorrectly assumed they were within the legal alcohol limit, according to new research by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), reports The Mirror.
Fresh data released by the RSA revealed that 45% of participants using Flinebox breathalyser kiosks believed—wrongly—that they were under the legal alcohol threshold.
These breathalyser stations were deployed at various events and hospitality spots across Ireland over a six-month period to provide users with instant alcohol level readings, reports The Mirror.
Throughout the pilot programme, more than 24,000 breath tests and surveys were carried out. The findings highlight significant concerns:
- 45% of those who tested over the limit believed they were still safe to drive.
- 64% of individuals over the 0.50 g/l blood alcohol limit admitted they intended to drive.
- 77% of people who incorrectly thought they were under the limit also planned to drive.
- Men aged 18 to 34 were the most likely demographic to underestimate their alcohol levels and report intentions to drive.
The Flinebox kiosks featured Dräger sensor technology, offering a precise alcohol reading within 10 seconds. Users simply blow into a straw and receive a display indicating whether they are over or under the limit, reports The Mirror.
If over, the system also provides an estimate of when it may be safe to drive again.
The RSA’s pilot ran from August 2024 to February 2025, placing the kiosks in venues such as bars, hotels, and event spaces throughout Mayo, Galway, Cork, Limerick, Laois, and Westmeath, reports The Mirror.
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