The Road Safety Authority (RSA) will once again take centre stage at Electric Picnic this weekend (29–31 August) as the official road safety partner of Ireland’s biggest music festival.
Now in the second year of a three-year partnership, the RSA is on a mission to deliver practical, life-saving messages to young people – at a time when youth road fatalities remain a major concern.
A highlight of the RSA’s presence at Electric Picnic will be the FlineBox, a self-service breathalyser powered by Dräger sensor technology – the same used by An Garda Síochána.
Festivalgoers will be able to test their blood alcohol levels and receive clear, judgement-free results before getting behind the wheel:
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No alcohol – Safe to drive
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Alcohol present but under the limit – Driving not recommended
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High alcohol – Over the legal limit, do not drive.
FlineBoxes will be available throughout the weekend in the Campervan, Red, and Yellow car parks, and remain open into Monday morning to support those driving home.
To extend the reach of this life-saving initiative, the RSA has teamed up with RTÉ 2FM, with presenters encouraging listeners to plan their journeys and use the FlineBox service to make informed, safe decisions.
Sam Waide, Chief Executive of the RSA, said: “Electric Picnic is a celebration of music and community – and we want everyone to enjoy it safely and get home safely. By bringing innovative tools like the FlineBox directly to festivalgoers, we’re empowering people to make smarter choices about drink driving. This partnership is part of our new strategy to connect with younger audiences and remind them that every journey matters – theirs, and everyone else’s on the road.”
The RSA is also reminding drivers to:
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Watch out for vulnerable road users, especially at night
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Take extra care the morning after – alcohol can remain in your system well into the next day
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Manage fatigue by remembering to stop, sip and sleep.
An Garda Síochána is encouraging festivalgoers to travel by public transport where possible, and for drivers to follow the official Garda traffic management plan at Garda.ie rather than relying on sat-nav.
“The objective of this plan is to facilitate and maximise the free flow of event traffic to and from designated parking areas and, in doing so, create a safe driving environment with minimum disruption to local and through traffic,” said a spokesperson.
The RSA’s presence at Electric Picnic is a powerful reminder that road safety is a shared responsibility. Together, the RSA, Gardaí, festival organisers and music fans are working to ensure that festivalgoers arrive safely – and get home safely.
