Safe and Sober Seminar

The Road Safety Authority (RSA), European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) and the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) hosted a Safe and Sober seminar on Friday 19 January in University College Dublin.

The objective of the Safe and Sober seminar was to raise awareness amongst policy makers, the private sector and key opinion leaders of the need for a systemic approach to reducing alcohol misuse in road transport.

The Seminar provided insights into the drink-driving situation in Ireland as well as case studies from EU member states.  Speakers from a range of agencies national and international discussed drink driving issues as well as treatment for alcohol use disorders in an Alcohol Ignition Interlock Programme.  The event included a practical demonstrations of alcohol interlock technology.

A detailed agenda can be found here.

The following presentations were presented on the day. 

Professor Denis A. Cusack, Medical Bureau of Road Safety presented on Drink Driving - the Road Safety challenge persists: understanding and tackling the Alcohol Intoxicant Enigma. Please see presentation here

Inspector Ross O’ Doherty, An Garda Síochána presented on Mandatory Intoxicant Testing Checkpoints. Please see presentation here

Ms. Velma Burns, Research Manager, Road Safety Authority presented on Public Attitudes to Drink Driving. Please see presentation here

Professor Desmond O’ Neill, Consultant Physician in Geriatric and Stroke Medicine, Tallaght Hospital and Trinity College Dublin presented on Blending Screening and Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorders in an Alcohol Ignition Interlock Programme. Please see presentation here

Mr. Antonio Avenoso, European Transport Safety Council presented on Drink Driving in the European Union – Latest Data and EU Legislation. Please see presentation here

Ms. Francesca Podda, European Transport Safety Council presented on Examples from Alcohol Interlock programmes in Europe. Please see presentation here

Ms. Anneliese Heeren, Belgian Federal Public Service for Mobility and Transport presented on Alcohol Interlock rehabilitation programme in Belgium. Please see presentation here

Mr. Andreas Olofsson, CEO, Vilhelmina Taxi Sweden presented onAlcohol Interlocks in taxi companies: a Swedish experience. Please see presentation here

Mr. Sergey Krasaev, Alcohol Countermeasure Systems (ACS) presented on Alcohol Interlocks - how do they work in practice?. Please see presentation here