An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority (RSA )'s annual Christmas and New Year Road Safety campaign will primarily focus on mandatory intoxicant testing – detecting those who drive having consumed alcohol or drugs.
The campaign commenced last weekend, during which gardaí say it detected 26 people driving under the influence of drugs and 85 driving under the influence of alcohol.
Gardaí say a total of 2,537 people have been detected driving under the influence of drugs to date in 2020. This is up 133 per cent on the same period in 2019 (1,192 ).
Despite a significant reduction in traffic levels this year due to Covid-19 restrictions, gardaí say speed detections have increased 26 per cent to date in 2020 (119,673 to 151,055 ). To date, 136 people have lost their lives on Irish roads in 2020. This is up six per cent (128 ) on the same period last year, according to Garda figures.
With national travel restrictions currently lifted, a heavy increase in traffic levels is expected. An Garda Síochána is urging road users to remember the basics of road safety, and not to drive if under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or a combination of both.
Slow Down Day
Nearly 900 motorists were caught speeding on ‘National Slow Down Day’.
An Garda Síochána says it detected 892 drivers travelling over the speed limit around the country.
Conducted in conjunction with the Road Safety Authority (RSA ), the 24-hour operation ran from 7am last Friday to 7am last Saturday.
GoSafe checked the speed of 186,125 vehicles in total. One person was detected driving 162km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N21 Castlematrix, Rathkeale, Limerick.
In Cloonagrasson, Ballintubber, Co Roscommon a motorist was found to be driving at 161km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the N60. Another motorist was detected driving at 97km/h in a 50km/h zone on the R680 Cork road in Co Waterford, while another drove at 94km/h in a 50km/h zone on the N20 Commons Road in Cork.
So far this year (as of December 14 ), 140 people have been killed on Irish roads, an increase of 12 compared to this time last year (128 ). In 2019, 140 people died in road-related incidents.
