Drug and drink driving numbers in the county have accelerated with Gardaí in Donegal arresting 25 people over the last three weekends for the offence.
New figures revealed today (Tues) show over an 11-month period there has been a 24% increase in the number of arrests for the offence.
The statistics revealed between September 2018 and August 2019 there were 416 arrests in Donegal for driving under the influence, which is an increase of 80 people arrested compared to the previous year.
In the last three weekends alone, there have been 25 arrests in the county, with five arrests last weekend, 10 the weekend before and 10 the weekend before that here in Donegal.
A Gardaí spokesperson said the figures showed how the public were simply not listening to warnings over the crime.
Garda Grainne Doherty said: ” I attended the Roadsafe roadshow the other day at the Aura leisure centre and it gave out a very powerful message to the young students who perhaps are going to start driving in the near future.
“I would doubt very much that anyone present at that Roadshow will ever drive whilst under the influence.
“I thought it was extremely interesting to listen to Gerry Lane, the A&E consultant, at the roadshow and he said that people think that the worst news that he can give to a family is that their loved one has died as a result of
a collision but that it is not.
“He may have to break the news that the person is alive but that they are totally trapped in their broken body and will remain like that for the rest of their days in a hospital bed or in a wheelchair unable to communicate or care for themselves.
“The message we want to send out is clear and it is a simple one. If you drive under the influence of drink or drugs you could end up spending the rest of your days in a rehab centre regretting it or your family might spend the rest of their days regretting your bad decision at your graveside.
“It is just not worth it!”
