The Road Safety Authority (RSA) put drug-driving in the spotlight on May 1 2025 with a new TV-led campaign launched alongside An Garda Síochána’s May Bank Holiday Road Safety Appeal. The ads go straight at the real-world fallout of using drugs before getting behind the wheel, reminding viewers that a single bad decision can cost a job, future travel plans, and even relationships. rsa.ie

At the centre of the TV spot is a young driver waiting at a Garda checkpoint. In the few seconds before the test begins, he imagines losing his licence for four years, missing school runs, and seeing the disappointment in friends and family. A 40-second radio edit deepens the message as a Garda officer recalls knocking on a door to tell loved ones their family member was killed in a crash. The story is being told everywhere young people are likely to see or hear it, from video-on-demand platforms to pub and club posters.

RSA figures show why the push is needed. In 2024 the Medical Bureau of Road Safety analysed 4,348 drug specimens, up 12 percent on 2023, and cannabis and cocaine led the list of substances detected. Gardaí arrested 3,230 drivers on suspicion of drug-driving during 2024, with another 814 arrests in the first quarter of 2025. Half of those picked up since January 2024 are under 30, and roadside enforcement is rising fast with up to 45,000 testing devices available this year, a 225 percent jump on 2023.

Surveys back up the enforcement numbers. Forty-two percent of drivers admit they understand little or nothing about Ireland’s drug-driving laws, and two-thirds think they are unlikely to be tested on a normal journey. Yet public backing for tough penalties is strong, with 85 percent saying a drug-driving conviction should mean disqualification. The RSA campaign taps that sentiment, calling on every driver, especially younger ones, to make a simple choice: never use drugs and drive.

Find more from RSA (Ireland, May 2025)