Shocking Garda report following St. Patrick’s Bank Holiday Weekend as two people dead

A shocking number of offences were made on Irish roads during St Patrick's Bank holiday weekend, where two people lost their lives and eight people are now being treated with serious or life-threatening injuries.

An extensive Garda Roads Policing Operation was set in place from Thursday March 13 to Tuesday March 18, which has revealed a shocking number of offences carried out throughout the country.

Gardaí reported more than 285 people using their phones while driving, over 125 unaccompanied learner drivers and 62 offences for not wearing seatbelts.

Also, more than 95 vehicles were seized from learner permit holders driving unaccompanied.

425 vehicles seized for having no tax or insurance.

An Garda Síochána carried out more than 1,025 Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) checkpoints.

Over 4,969 breath tests and 190 oral fluid tests were performed which saw 214 arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant, Gardaí said.

Over 2,650 drivers were detected for speeding offences:

Notable top speeds detected in each speed zone include:

• 124km/hr in a 50km/hr zone on R188, Drumbear, Monaghan.
• 98km/hr in a 60km/hr zone on the N4, Drishoge, Carrick-On-Shannon, Roscommon.
• 178km/hr in an 80km/hr zone on the N2, Drumcaw, Monaghan.
• 184km/hr in a 100km/hr zone on the N15, Tully, Donegal.
• 171km/hr in a 120km/hr zone on the M18, Killeenhugh, Kinvara, Galway.

READ NEXT: RIP: Pedestrian dies and another airlifted to hospital following crash as parade cancelled

An Garda Síochána continue to appeal to all road users to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to slow down and to always choose a speed that is appropriate to the driving conditions, to wear your seatbelt and keep your eyes always on the road.