Gardaí in Donegal are set to increase road safety operations this St. Patrick’s weekend.
Checkpoints will be in operation both day and night, with particular attention to be focused on ‘morning after’ drink-driving.
One in 10 alcohol-related crashes happen the morning after, gardaí have warned, while 10% of driving under the influence arrests occur between 7am – 12pm.
Spokesperson Garda Grainne Doherty said: “Gardaí will be operating checkpoints day and night throughout the period. We will have a visible presence on the roads over the course of St Patricks Day and over the long weekend.
“Our priority is to keep people safe and prevent death and injury on our roads. I would appeal to those of you who will be socialising and consuming alcohol to leave your car at home or designate a driver and remember you may still be over the limit the morning after. #
“We urge people not to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and please do not get into a car as a passenger with a driver whom you suspect may be under the influence.”
There has been a 118% increase in road deaths in 2022.