A fifth of passengers have admitted travelling in a car with a drunk driver over the last two years, it emerged today.
A new poll revealed the figure rose to more than a quarter among 17 to 24-year-olds who took a lift from someone believed to be over the legal limit - to be lowered within months.
And one in 10 in the age group was also driven by someone they suspected of taking drugs.
More than 14,000 people responded to the survey by AA Motor Insurance.
Conor Faughnan, AA Ireland’s director of policy, said: “While as a passenger you may not be breaking the law yourself under these circumstances, you do have a moral responsibility.
“Alcohol is a contributing factor in a third of fatal accidents on our roads and passengers owe it to their own safety and that of other road users not to turn a blind eye or allow convenience to overrule their good sense.”
The figures were published just months before the breath test limit for drink driving will be lowered to 50mg of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, down from 80mg.
It will drop to 20mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood for both learners and professional drivers.
But under the changes being rolled out, some drivers just over the new limits will be given a controversial second chance to keep their licence.
Instead of going through the courts to face an automatic ban, gardaí will be given powers to impose three penalty points and an on-the-spot fine.
Roadside tests for people suspected of taking drugs are also being devised.
The AA survey also showed 45 per cent of those quizzed admitted to driving the morning after drinking, still unsure whether their blood alcohol levels had returned to legally permissible levels.
And more than a third stated they had got into a car with a driver they knew to be nursing a very bad hangover in the last 24 months.
The AA said 10 per cent more men than women - 49.8 per cent compared to 39.7 per cent - have taken this gamble at some point within the last two years.
PA