Gardaí in Donegal have begged road users to stop and rethink the consequences if they choose to drive under the influence of drink or drugs.
The appeal follows 18 further arrests in Donegal over the past week. Thirteen of the arrests were for drink driving and the other five were for drug driving.
“These are extremely worrying figures,” said spokesperson, Garda Shaun Sweeney.
“We regularly make this appeal but unfortunately it seems to fall on deaf ears in some cases. Everybody is very well aware of the risks associated with driving while under the influence yet there are obviously still drivers who are willing to take that risk. They risk their own life and the lives of others by doing so.”
In one case, Letterkenny Roads Policing Unit detected a vehicle travelling at 130km/h in a speed zone of 60km/h in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The driver failed to stop when signalled to do so and instead continued on at excessive speed.
Gardaí stopped the vehicle a short time later and they arrested the driver on suspicion of drink driving. They also discovered that the driver was not insured. This driver has been charged to appear in court.
Three more uninsured drivers were caught in the Cloghan area near Ballybofey on Saturday last. One of the drivers in question was arrested after failing to stop when signalled to do so. They were charged to appear in court. A number of other road traffic offences were also detected.
Garda Sweeney added: “We are continuously trying to make our roads safer by means of education and also by means of enforcement. We cannot do it alone.”
“We urge all drivers never to take any type of dangerous and unnecessary risks on the roads. Never drive while under the influence. Slow down. Wear a seatbelt and do not hold/use a mobile phone while driving. Ensure that your documents are in order.”
