Electric Picnic

The RSA is partnering with Electric Picnic to deliver important life-saving road safety messages around the festival which runs from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August at Stradbally Hall, Co. Laois. This forms part of the RSA's strategy to reach a younger audience and support them on their road safety journey, particularly with the rise in youth road fatalities.

The RSA will be highlighting the need for drivers to be on the lookout for vulnerable road users over the course of the festival including pedestrians and particularly at night time when traveling to and from the venue.  We will also be warning of the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and will be urging road users to take extra care the morning after, encouraging motorists to wait until it is safe before returning to the road, take a taxi, public transport or a lift from a friend and ensure all those travelling wear their seatbelts.

Over the course of the weekend, the RSA will be present in various Electric Picnic car parks with Flinebox interactive breathalysers, which use trusted Dräger alcohol sensor technology. Festivalgoers can simply blow into a straw and receive their result on screen within ten seconds. The purpose of these breathalysers is not enforcement but education, giving each person clear, personalised information to help them make an informed decision about whether they are safe to drive.

Where the reading is under the legal limit, the screen will indicate that the individual is fit to drive, while readings above the limit will clearly highlight that driving is not recommended and will also provide an estimated waiting time before they should come and test again before making their decision. This allows drivers to understand the impact of alcohol on their ability to drive and reinforces the importance of making safe choices before getting behind the wheel.

The RSA will be on site from Friday 28 until Monday 31 August.