RSA announces three-year partnership with Live Nation

2024 partnership will see RSA stations* at Electric Picnic and the launch of a new campaign ‘Lose Your Licence, Lose Your Independence

RSA and Electric Picnic partnership aims to encourage everyone to get home safely

The Road Safety Authority is today announcing a three-year partnership with Electric Picnic to deliver important life-saving road safety messages around the festival. The partnership will see RSA have a presence at Electric Picnic which takes places this weekend from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 August at Stradbally Hall, Co. Laois.

This year, the RSA’s presence at the event will include a ‘Lose Your Licence, Lose Your Independence’ video launched on the main stage screens. The partnership is part of a new strategy for the RSA to reach a youth audience to support them on their road safety journey, particularly with the rise in youth road fatalities in 2024.

RSA Lose Your Licence, Lose Your Independence campaign

The RSA will be launching a new campaign on the consequences of losing your licence. It explores how the loss of freedom and independence makes you more reliant on family, friends and colleagues to take you where you need to go. The campaign aims to show young male drivers what it is like to become a burden to others when you lose your licence, and to encourage safe and responsible behaviours on the road. It highlights the message of an automatic disqualification if caught driving under the influence of drink or drugs and at Electric Picnic the video encourages everyone to get home safely.

The Lose Your Licence, Lose Your Independence campaign is running across TV, video on demand, sports, radio, podcasts, display, digital and out of home and runs from 19 August to 15 September 2024. For more information click here.

Speaking ahead of Electric Picnic, Minister of State for the Department of Transport James Lawless said: ‘Road safety is a key concern for everyone, and it is never acceptable to get behind the wheel with drink or drugs in your system. With festivals like Electric Picnic increasing traffic on the roads, it is important that we ensure that we enjoy the festival and get to and from the venue safely and responsibly. I wish everyone a fantastic time at Electric Picnic but please plan your trip and don’t drink and drive.’

CEO of the RSA Sam Waide said: ‘We are delighted to be the official road safety partner at Electric Picnic – together we want everyone to get there and back home safely. The RSA’s presence at Electric Picnic this year aims to remind people to think before they get behind the wheel. If you are driving to and from the festival, it is important to remember that you must not take any chances with alcohol and drugs. Do not get behind the wheel if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  If you are the designated driver for friends or family, remember you have a duty of care to them as well as to yourself.’

Festival Director of Electric Picnic Melvin Benn said: ‘Every year, we look forward to welcoming thousands of music fans to Stradbally for a weekend of music and their safety is of paramount importance to us. We are particularly proud to be partnering with the RSA for the first time this year and sharing their important message with our attendees over the weekend. We want everyone to enjoy the festival and get home safely and we can do that by working together.’

The RSA has highlighted the need for drivers to be on the lookout for vulnerable road users over the course of the festival including pedestrians and particularly at nighttime when traveling to and from the venue.  It is also warning of the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and has urged 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 weekend, RSA is advising motorists to take driver fatigue into consideration and is reminding motorists to stop, sip and sleep – stop in a safe place, have a caffeine drink and take a 15–20-minute nap.

Please see more on the Electric Picnic partnership and new campaign here.

Notes to editor:

*RSA will be at four locations across the Electric Picnic car parks with Flinebox interactive breathalysers over the weekend and open to the public at the following times:

• Friday 4pm-12am
• Saturday 4pm-1am
• Sunday 4pm-12am
• Monday 7am-2pm

The Flinebox use the Drager alcohol sensor technology. The user blows into a straw and the result appears on screen in 10 seconds. The information will highlight if the user can or can’t drive and if above the alcohol limit it will highlight a waiting time to eliminate the alcohol before the person gets behind the wheel.

The makers of the breathalysers, Fline, was established with a clear mission: to promote responsible alcohol consumption. This mission was inspired by the personal tragedies of its founders, who lost their grandmother to an accident caused by a drunk driver.

Communications Department
 
Road Safety Authority, Moy Valley Business Park, 
Primrose Hill, Dublin Road, Ballina, Co. Mayo, F26 V6E4.
Tel. (096) 25008

www.rsa.ie