BREAKING: High number of drink-drivers and drug-drivers arrested in Kildare over Christmas and New Year

West Dublin and South Dublin had 38 and 54 drink-drivers and drug-drivers arrested respectively while the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Garda Division had 38.

placeholder image — West Dublin and South Dublin had 38 and 54 drink-drivers and drug-drivers arrested respectively while the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Garda Division had 38.

The Kildare Garda Division had one of the highest number of driver arrested for drink-driving or drug-driving over the Christmas and New Year period, official Garda figures show.

Between December 1 and January 3, 24 motorists were arrested at checkpoints across the county for being under the influence of alcohol.

A further 13 were arrested for drug-driving across Kildare.

Only three other Garda Divisions had higher figures than Kildare.

The Christmas and New Year Road Safety Campaign saw an information-led operation which targeted the four life saver offences of intoxicated driving, speeding, use of mobile phone while driving and non-wearing of seatbelts.

These offence types were targeted as evidence shows they are the key contributors to causing fatal and serious injury road traffic collisions.

Throughout the campaign 7,405 checkpoints were conducted nationwide. Between 1st December 2022 and the 3rd of January 2023:

• 745 people were arrested for Driving Under the Influence, 136 of whom were

arrested on suspicion of Drug Driving

• 256 seatbelt offences were detected

• 932 drivers were detected using their mobile phones

• 14,704 speeding offences were detected and

• 4,829 road traffic collisions were reported to An Garda Síochána

Speaking today, Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman said, "In December 2022 sadly 16 people lost their lives on Irish roads.

We are committed to reversing the trend in deaths and serious injuries on our roads. In 2023 we will continue to work with all agencies to ensure we play our part in making our roads safer and delivering the Governmental Road Safety Strategy.

"I would appeal to all road users to consider their actions and behaviours on the roads. We all share the road space and therefore there it is a shared responsibility for making our roads safer’ I would ask all road users to work with us to reduce serious injury and fatal road traffic collisions by adhering to the rules of the road and adapting their behaviour to suit road and environmental conditions’.