Drink driving is ranked with drug dealing and sexual abuse as one of the most shameful types of behaviour, according to research released today.
The Road Safety Authority figures show that 87 per cent of the population believe that drinking and driving is extremely shameful behaviour, only after sexual abuse (96 per cent) and drug dealing (93 per cent).
Speaking at the announcement of the RSA's summer "Arrive Alive" road safety campaign, chairman Gay Byrne said: "Drink driving is no longer seen as normal social behaviour. What would have been acceptable attitudes ten years ago are thankfully in 2006 seen as unacceptable.
"We are winning the moral argument, the battle for the hearts and minds of the public and they are to be congratulated. Such safer attitudes mean lives saved and injuries prevented."
The figures also show there has been a 63 per cent increase between 2000 and 2006 in the number of people saying drivers should never drink and drive.
There has been a 45 per cent drop in the number of people saying it is acceptable to drink and drive after more than one unit of alcohol, in the same period.
An overwhelming majority (79 per cent) of the public want to see more roadside breath testing of drink drivers, and 77 per cent want to see more severe penalties for drink driving offences, the RSA research found.
A total of 165 people have died on Irish roads to date in 2006 compared to 160 for the same period last year. Since the beginning of the year, 79 drivers, 42 passengers, 34 pedestrians, eight motorcyclists and two pedal cyclists have died in fatal collisions.