High number of drink-driving arrests over bank holiday weekend revealed

Almost 200 people were arrested for drink and drug driving over the bank holiday weekend, gardai have revealed.

On Friday, 3 February 2023, An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority launched a road safety appeal in advance of the February Bank Holiday weekend with a focus on urging drivers to slow down and always choose a speed that is appropriate to the driving conditions.

Over the February Bank Holiday, a Garda operation was put in place between 7am Friday, 3 February 2023 and 7am Tuesday, 7 February 2023.

Tragically, one person died in a fatal collision on our roads over this period, and a further nine collisions took place that resulted in 9 serious and life-threatening injuries.

Over the February Bank Holiday period, An Garda Síochána carried out 1,248 checkpoints.

196 persons arrested for Driving under the Influence (123 Alcohol/ 73 Drugs).

Fixed Charge Offences for other road offences during the period included:

• Mobile Phones – 216
• Learner unaccompanied drivers – 123
• Seatbelts – 69

In addition, 460 Vehicles were detained under section 41 Road Traffic Act for offences such as unaccompanied learner driver, no driving licence, no insurance and no tax.

During this period, Go-Safe checked the speed of 393,626 vehicles.

Notable top speeds detected in each Speed Zone are:

• 113km/h in a 50km/h zone on the N6, Baile An Phoill, Gaillimh, Gaillimh
• 100km/h in a 60 km/h zone on the Navan Road, Dublin 15, Dublin
• 160km/h in an 80 km/h zone on the R178, Redbog, Carrickmacross, Louth
• 156km/h in a 100 km/h zone on the N62, Doon Demesne, Ballinahowen, Offaly
• 165 km/h in a 120 km/h zone on the M18, Killeenhugh, Kinvara, Galway

A garda spokesperson said: "We continue to appeal to all road users, that for whatever reason persons are using our roads, whatever a person’s mode of transport may be, to continue to ‘Stay Safe’ on our roads".