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A drink driver with blood on his hands in the new ad RSA

New RSA ad shows blood on the hands of those who promote drink driving

It’s reminiscent of the shocking early-2000s road safety ads, which the RSA had departed from in recent years.

A NEW AD campaign by the Road Safety Authority shows blood on the hands of those who drink drive, as well as those who don’t call it out. 

It’s reminiscent of the shocking early-2000s road safety ads, which the RSA had departed from in recent years.

It centres a man who enters a pub and sits with his friends, putting his car keys on the table.

One person in the group asks if he’ll have a pint and the man nods and says: “Sure, I can always take the quiet road home.”

He sits drinking with his friends and their hands gradually become covered in more and more blood.

The Journal / YouTube

The man gets up to leave and walks out, leaving bloody footprints behind him before getting in his car and driving away.

“Drink driving kills. Don’t let your friends drink and drive,” the caption reads.

In the latest international E-Survey of Road Users’ Attitudes (ESRA, 2023), 9% of drivers in Ireland admitted to driving within one hour of taking drugs at least once in the previous 30 days. This is higher than the EU average of 7%.

Drink-driving reports in Ireland are lower than the EU average – 10% compared to 15% – but alcohol continues to play a role in crashes.

The RSA analysed coronial data of driver fatalities between 2016 and 2020 and found that 35% of drivers with toxicology results available tested positive for alcohol.

The figure jumps to 70% for driver fatalities that occurred late at night and into the early morning (between 10pm-6am)

The new ad premiered at the RSA’s Annual International Road Safety Conference, where Seán Canney, Minister of State for the Department of Transport, said the campaign “challenges us all to take responsibility”.
“Whether at the pub, at a party, or any social gathering … say no to drink driving and call it out.”

The RSA aims to eliminate road deaths completely by 2050. While there was a 4% decrease in 2024 compared to the previous year, the trend shows a gradual increase in road deaths over the last decade.

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    Mute Padraic O' Sullivan
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    Jun 11th 2025, 12:06 PM
    81
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    Mute Tom L
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    Jun 11th 2025, 12:14 PM

    @Henry Murphy: Leg ends*

    97
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    Mute Phuqaigh MacYu
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    Jun 11th 2025, 12:18 PM

    @Tom L:
    Bell-ends

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    Mute Mary BINTon
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    Jun 11th 2025, 12:43 PM

    @Henry Murphy: How did they all find out you’re Rian/Buster/Basil/Doe/Linton?
    Did someone rat you out as the Journals multi-account troll? Never mind chubby cheeks, me and the fam will comfort you xx

    49
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    Mute Lance Taylor
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    Jun 11th 2025, 12:46 PM

    @Henry Murphy: well I tell you they sold out Kerry to the Ukrainians,nothing great about them

    30
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    Mute S Suilleabhain
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    Jun 11th 2025, 1:41 PM

    @Lance Taylor: they sold out Kerry from the get go. Bunch of odious characters

    14
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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jun 11th 2025, 1:51 PM

    @Padraic O’ Sullivan: All accidents have variable contributing factors. We don’t care or want to know tho, just give us the usual expensive advertising while allowing Freight, Agri, public, private, horses, bikes, walkers, (plus the 1m ditch either side of the 5m road is where all wildlife must now live:)… If no one sees a problem with putting all these users in the same place at the same time, then honestly, we deserve it.

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    Mute Lance Taylor
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    Jun 11th 2025, 2:43 PM

    @S Suilleabhain: yes they have fleeced the people completely

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    Mute Gavin Smartr
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    Jun 11th 2025, 3:03 PM

    @Henry Murphy: HRs = Kerry mafia

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    Mute AnthonyK
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    Jun 11th 2025, 11:59 AM

    They also need to show blood on the hands of those who peddle drink. There is no point just blaming users.

    39
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    Mute George Bowling
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    Jun 11th 2025, 12:05 PM

    @Henry Murphy: mainly for the weak-ends these days, but with the sun shining today I might take your advice and enjoy a few mid-weak scoops.

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    Mute damien leen
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    Jun 11th 2025, 12:12 PM

    @George Bowling: Cheers

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    Mute Setanta O'Toole
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    Jun 11th 2025, 12:14 PM

    @AnthonyK: no off license or pub is forcing someone to hop into their car afterwards. Ffs.

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    Mute Julio's Evil Twin
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    Jun 11th 2025, 12:14 PM

    @AnthonyK: how would that work?

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    Mute Mary BINTon
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    Jun 11th 2025, 12:45 PM

    @Henry Murphy: Too true bruv, remember that time you drank a hand shandy shot, you were throwing up for days but now you love it.

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    Mute Lance Taylor
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    Jun 11th 2025, 12:53 PM

    @George Bowling: just please don’t drive. If the haeley rays are drink driving at lunch then they should be prosecuted

    14
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    Mute Hanora Brennan
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    Jun 11th 2025, 1:23 PM

    @AnthonyK: It’s their mode of living. Each person is responsible for his own actions. We’re not a nanny state. Arrange alternative transport home in the event of socialising.

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jun 11th 2025, 1:46 PM

    @AnthonyK: France has a law I believe (guilty by association etc).

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    Mute Joe Dolan
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    Jun 11th 2025, 2:48 PM

    @Henry Murphy: I’d say you’re fun at parties!

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    Mute Geraldine Donoghue
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    Jun 11th 2025, 4:39 PM

    @AnthonyK: Ever heard of personal responsibility?

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    Mute Coldfilter Coldfilter
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    Jun 11th 2025, 12:26 PM

    The puritans on cue from the RSA are obsessed with drink and speed to the purpose neglect of the 3rd World roads,poor signage,slow drivers,tractors on motorways, idiots perpetually in overtaking lanes,no indicators,poor driving habits, etc.When in doubt return the headlines to a manipulated RSA survey to distract from the real issues.The condemnation of alcohol in general terms fits in neatly with the strategy of the left wing puritans and their temporary fellow travellers,Islam.

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    Mute Mic JHintl
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    Jun 11th 2025, 12:36 PM

    @Coldfilter Coldfilter: interesting response. I see you know very little about driving although we have common ground on the rsa which has shown publicly how incompetent it is. I see all your little road rage inspired complaints thrown in there where you get frustrated at others poor driving. To suggest impaired driving isn’t a problem tells me all I need to know about your driving knowledge and then throw Islam in right at the end for good measure. All in all a word salad.

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    Mute Sato
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    Jun 11th 2025, 1:26 PM

    @Coldfilter Coldfilter: What a complete and utter load of nonsense. Globally, drunk and drug-impaired driving is recognized as a major issue that can be addressed, leading to fewer deaths and injuries on the roads.

    While driving too slowly is a concern and it’s essential for people to learn how to use indicators, navigate roundabouts, and utilize overtaking lanes properly, as well as to avoid distractions from phones and other screens while driving, the primary causes of accidents remain alcohol, drugs, and excessive speed. Given this reality, it makes sense to prioritize resolving these issues urgently.

    Additionally, the RSA and An Garda Síochána are working to educate the public about the various dangers on our roads, not just those related to alcohol and drugs.

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    Mute Dereck
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    Jun 11th 2025, 1:38 PM

    @Coldfilter Coldfilter: Nonsense. The Islamists have flying carpets and don’t drink.

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jun 11th 2025, 1:41 PM

    @Sato: While I’m not sure about the commenters ricochet reaction above, nobody is doing anything in transport in Ireland, not really ever have the necessities of our systems been discussed, ever! I don’t know (or really actually care) about Kathmandu or wherever else, but locally all we get is this bs back at us… and we pay for it too!

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    Mute Coldfilter Coldfilter
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    Jun 11th 2025, 5:02 PM

    @Mic JHintl: A stark ommission from the flawed RSA study is the unspoken proliferation of single vehicle crashes in the small hours of the morning.To highlight this is to admit utter failure on behalf of An Gardai to patrol roads at such unsocial hours.Worse again is to highlight the reality that these ‘accidents’ are clearly attributed to young men taking their own lives.Much easier to pontificate about the dreaded drink and the attainment of Net Zero deaths on the road by 2050,an utterly ridiculous aspiration not achieved since the introduction of the ass and cart.Typical left wing liberal tosh playing to the gallery!

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    Mute Mic JHintl
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    Jun 11th 2025, 6:35 PM

    @Coldfilter Coldfilter: male suicide is a stand alone issue as it stands anyway. and nothing is done in relation to it. I hope your involved in your community to raise awareness of it but without the presuppositions of you understanding every single occupancy road death. No doubt there are issues but no one is taking you seriously using Islam liberal tosh net zero and every other scrabble based term in the book. Again DUI is a massively issue in road deaths as is suicide most likely but here you are denying it.

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jun 11th 2025, 1:12 PM

    Another ‘campaign’… Saves them from doing anything in infrastructure, saw a instagram account showing the dangers of driving in Ireland, the particular reel was a car of people chatting then screaming as a bus comes flying around a corner on our narrow unkept system, to much screaming! No accident, but a daily occurrence for many, condolences to the family of the 80 year old man who was knocked off his bike and died at the weekend (reported a few articles down). Lazy, shoddy, blame game will do nothing but agitate people against each other… *a slow hand clap to the government and the RSA

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    Mute Paul O'Mahoney
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    Jun 11th 2025, 3:28 PM

    @Thesaltyurchin: Did that video show how fast they were travelling? Where we are its an R road in excellent condition with speed signs and even an electronic speed detector telling them how fast they are travelling limit 50kph with footpaths and entrances to houses and housing estates that doesn’t deter many driving at the limit. Same on Motorways, N roads etc. They still drive at 60/70 plus highest I saw 98 .Roads aren’t the issue if you drive at an appropriate speed , but people don’t care , nothing can be done if people ignore the laws and drive appropriately.

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jun 11th 2025, 5:46 PM

    @Paul O’Mahoney: Mad the have a sign that tells you your speed, but cant report you! Ridiculous (probs cost a fortune too), and that is the top level of ‘vision’ from the political class. According to Garda.ie Speed is the largest ‘contributer’ to road deaths, 1/3 involving speeding, does that not leave leave 2/3s not including speeding? The perimeters for statistics are set by those that communicate them, so I cant get behind it, like who decides what ‘age’ define a young person in the gathering of data and why?.. so they can peddle numbers back at us and make it look like work. There’s never been a serious conversation about roads and their usage in Ireland, ever I would wager. For shame, there is blood on the hands of consecutive ministers for their lack of ambition in this space.

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    Mute Allo Allo
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    Jun 11th 2025, 1:45 PM

    II think the add hits the spot, it’s clearly targeting a rural setting where 70% of road fatalities occur.

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    Mute Tezmond McVicar
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    Jun 11th 2025, 1:58 PM

    We need more of these Public Information Films that shock and leave you thinking. They also need a few centred on mobile phone use and common courtesy on the road.

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    Mute Coldfilter Coldfilter
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    Jun 11th 2025, 5:30 PM

    @Tezmond McVicar: No, we don’t need unnecessary drama, just action on the state of the roads!

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    Mute Gerald Fitzgerald
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    Jun 11th 2025, 3:20 PM

    The blood is also on the hands of those responsible for the upkeep of the public roads which are substandard in comparison to the vehicles using them which are compulsory tested annualy by law the same does not apply to the road system. The RSA exists on double standards how can you have road safety

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    Mute Paul O'Mahoney
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    Jun 11th 2025, 3:33 PM

    @Gerald Fitzgerald: RSA aren’t responsible for roads. Blame someone for your clear ignorance.

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jun 11th 2025, 5:47 PM

    @Gerald Fitzgerald: 100%. The ‘do nothing’ brigade have been sitting on their hands for 100 years, as long as they can whip up some hate they will be fine

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    Mute Garry Coll
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    Jun 11th 2025, 12:56 PM

    Watched the ad.
    Could be very effective.
    However there is a serious lack of diversity within the cast.

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    Mute marklars81
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    Jun 11th 2025, 1:31 PM

    @Garry Coll: sure only the old school paddies drink and drive.

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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Jun 11th 2025, 2:17 PM

    @Garry Coll: Diversity only triggers the pıg bigots.

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    Mute brendan C5
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    Jun 11th 2025, 2:50 PM

    If they want it to work a huge fine and ban for 3 months for the first time the second time a lifetime driving ban with no appeal, that will work.

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    Mute brendan C5
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    Jun 11th 2025, 2:45 PM

    Ya that will work like all the others.

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