Gardaí arrested 173 people during Christmas week for drinking under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
In the week of New Year’s celebrations, gardaí have warned that the highest risk time for fatal or serious road traffic collisions during the Christmas and New Year period is between 12 noon and 9pm – with over half (55%) of incidents occurring within this timeframe.
In the seven days from 22nd – 28th December. 173 people were arrested for Driving Under the influence, 24 of which were arrested on suspicion of Drug Driving.
There were a further 3,060 speeding offences.
As of Friday, 157 people have lost their lives on Ireland’s roads. This is 25 more than on the same date in 2021. Some 1,185 collisions causing serious injury have also occurred.
Inspector Ross O’Doherty of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau said: “Not everyone might realise the real dangers of driving the morning after but intoxicated driving at any hour of the day or night carries a high risk – a risk to the health and safety of you and other road users but also of losing your licence and being put off the road which carries a penalty.
“Gardaí are out conducting checkpoints and other operational activity nationwide to ensure that everyone gets to their destination safely this New Year’s weekend.
“We are not asking motorists, we are urging them to help us reduce the number of serious and fatal road traffic collisions by never taking a risk. It is never, ever worth it and hindsight often comes far too late. “
