Gardaí make 175 arrests for drink and drug driving over St Patrick's weekend
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Gardaí have confirmed that 175 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs over the St Patrick’s Day bank holiday weekend.
A total of 9,970 roadside drug and alcohol tests were conducted at 760 checkpoints during a nationwide roads policing operation between 7am on Thursday, March 14, and 7am on Tuesday, March 19.
These roadside tests resulted in 175 motorists being arrested for driving under the influence.
Over the same period, gardaí also caught 1,800 motorists driving in excess of the applicable speeding limit, with one motorist clocked doing 147km/h in a 60km/h zone in Cookstown, Dublin 24.
Another was caught driving at 209km/h on a 100km/h stretch of the N3 in Daggan, Butletsbridge in Co Cavan.
Other notable detections included:
- A motorist clocked doing 113km/hr in a 50km/hr zone on Coolock Lane, Dublin 17;
- Another was caught doing 157km/hr in an 80km/hr zone of the R731 in Monamolin, Rathnure, Co Wexford
- Another was detected doing 155km/hr in a 120km/hr zone on the M8 in Clonmore, Cahir, Co. Tipperary
Gardaí also issued 321 fixed charge notices for other road offences: 170 for mobile phone use while driving; 92 to unaccompanied learner drivers, and 59 to people not wearing seatbelts.
Some 385 vehicles were also seized for having no tax or insurance while 75 more were seized from learner permit holders for driving unaccompanied.
Chief Superintendent, Jane Humphries, of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau, said motorists must continue to be mindful of their actions behind the wheel and should "prioritise safe driving habits every day to ensure we keep all road users safe."
"Every single one of us has a responsibility to practice good driver behaviour and prevent both road fatalities and serious injury traffic collisions. We have got to work together," she said.