One drink/drug driving arrest was made every single hour during the Christmas period in Ireland, gardaí have revealed.
That’s 818 drivers caught on suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant. A quarter of these arrests were for suspected drug driving.
Gardaí today concluded the month-long Christmas and New Year Road Safety Enforcement Operation.
Since Friday, December 1st 2023 some 15,542 drivers were detected and fined for speeding offences, over 1,000 for the use of a mobile phone while driving and 291 for not wearing a seatbelt.
The number of road deaths in 2023 increased by 19% compared to 2022. A total of 184 people died in 173 fatal crashes in 2023. This is compared to 155 deaths in 149 collisions in the previous year.
While the Christmas road safety enforcement operation has now concluded, Gardaí nationwide continue to target the life saver traffic offences with an aim of keeping all road users safe.
An Garda Síochána urge all motorists to never drive under the influence of an intoxicant, reduce your speed, always wear a seatbelt, never use a mobile phone while driving – this includes using apps or having a phone on the dash – avoid all distractions and give driving your full attention.
