A Garda clampdown on the roads this Christmas is seeing up to 30 checkpoints a day operating across the county.
Superintendent Pat Murray is the regional traffic superintendent for the western region.
He said the annual Christmas campaign is focusing on drink driving, distraction driving - using a mobile phone or driving while tired — people who don’t wear their seatbelts, and pedestrian safety.
He also warned some checkpoints will be operating early in the morning in a bid to highlight the danger of driving after a late night in the pub.
“On any day in Mayo, there could be 25 to 30 checkpoints. A certain percentage of the checkpoints will be in the morning.
“People need to be aware that if you’ve been out drinking until three in the morning, there’s a high liklihood there will be residue alcohol on your breath,” said Superintendent Murray.
He said offences are declining but gardaí are still arresting some 30 people in the western region every week for drink driving.
Gardaí are also highlighting pedestrian safety.
“There were eight pedestrian deaths in the region this year. That’s an area of concern for us in the west. The public should be aware that if they are walking, they must take personal responsibility to ensure they are visible, day and night,” said the superintendent.
