Gardaí in Donegal are urging motorists to slow down and save lives this Easter weekend.
Checkpoints have been in operation across the county in recent days.
One speedcheck in Letterkenny detected a driver doing 157KPH in a 100KPH zone. The driver will now have to pay a fine of €160 and they will receive 3 penalty points.
Another checkpoint was mounted in the Lifford area as part of a Cross Border operation with the PSNI.
Collision statistics show that 78 people have been killed or seriously injured over the Easter Bank Holiday period in the last five years. Last year alone, 2 people were killed and 18 seriously injured. Bank Holidays bring a higher volume of traffic onto the road across the country, and with this comes an increased risk of collisions.
A Donegal-based Garda spokesperson said: “Please always drive with care, slow down and wear a seatbelt regardless of where you travel. Never drive while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Road safety should be a top priority every time you get behind the wheel. Stay safe this Bank Holiday Weekend. ”
Additional RSA advice for road users to make this a safer Bank Holiday Weekend:
- If you are planning a long trip over the Easter Bank Holiday, remember that traffic will probably be heavy so you plan to give yourself additional time to allow you to get your destination safely. Plan some breaks along the way to stop you from getting tired.
- If you feel tired while driving: Stop, Sip, Sleep. That’s stop somewhere safe, have a caffeinated drink and nap for 15 minutes. Whatever you do, please don’t fight sleep at the wheel.
- This Easter Bank Holiday Weekend drivers are being reminded that the RSA and participating Applegreen service stations are providing free cups of coffee to drivers to help combat driver fatigue. The offer is available from 2pm to 8pm on Friday 7 April and on Monday 10 April.
- Drivers planning to head out socialising over the Easter Bank Holiday are urged to plan how they are going to get home safely. Book a taxi, or hackney, use public transport or designate a driver. The same also applies if we are planning to walk, particularly in rural areas where there may be no footpaths or street lighting.
- Remember: if you have been drinking, you may not be safe to drive the morning after. Don’t risk it! Use public transport, a taxi or arrange a life with a friend or colleague. If you cannot, then delay your journey until it’s safe to drive. It takes approximately one hour to get rid of one unit of alcohol from your body. A unit of alcohol is half a pint, a glass of wine and a standard measure of spirits.
