Novel bid to stop St. Patrick's Day drink driving

LEPRECHAUNS are coming out of the woodwork to assist road safety professionals and the gardai in Co. Mayo to spread the road safety message in a novel road safety campaign.

In a build up to the celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day, Leprechaun cut-outs/selfie boards are been set up around the county in pubs.

St. Patrick’s Day is now one the biggest party days of the year, surpassing even New Year’s Eve for drunk driving.

Figures released by the gardaí last year showed a big spike in alcohol related road accidents and arrests over the St. Patrick’s Day period.

Figures that look back over the past five years find that on average twice as many people are arrested on St. Patrick’s Day and the day after for drink driving offences than at any other point in the month of March.

Between 2010 and 2014, 15 people were killed on Irish roads during the March 16 to 18 period with another 30 seriously injured.

Mayo Garda Traffic Inspector Mandy Gaynor Traffic said. “We just don’t want motorists to get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking.

'Obviously we want everyone to enjoy the festivities that will take place around the country, but please remember that if you are celebrating and consuming alcohol, leave the car behind. This not only applies to the day itself, but also the morning after.”