Nearly 200 motorists arrested for drink and drug driving over the Bank Holiday weekend

A Roads Policing Operation took place across the May Bank Holiday weekend with Gardaí arresting hundreds of drivers for serious offences including speeding and driving under the influence.

100's of cars were also seized from learner drivers driving under the influence and cars that had no tax and insurance.

Sadly over the weekend there were two road fatalities, a lady in her 80s died after being hit by a truck in Roscommon on May 1 and a man in his 60s passed away following a collision in Dublin on Monday.

There were also six serious collisions that resulted in six individuals sustaining severe and life-threatening injuries.

Over the course of the operation, An Garda Síochána conducted more than 1,000 Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) checkpoints. More than 13,000 breath tests and approximately 280 oral fluid tests were carried out, leading to 187 arrests for driving under the influence of an intoxicant.

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We found this driver speeding at 120km/h in a 60km/h zone while we were carrying out speed checks in Donadea,Kildare over the Bank Holiday.

We stopped them and it was found that they were a learner who had no insurance or tax for nine years.

They were arrested. Court to follow. pic.twitter.com/hhYfUApFip

— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) May 6, 2025

Additionally, over 3,000 drivers were detected exceeding speed limits throughout the weekend. Notable speeds detected included:

• 122km/h in a 60km/h zone Donadea, Co. Kildare (motorcycle)
• 129km/h in a 60km/h zone on Navan Road, Dublin 15 (motorcycle)
• 151km/h in a 100km/h zone in Drumfin, Co. Sligo
• 181km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N25 Ballynamone, Co. Kilkenny

Fixed Charge Notices issued for other road offences during this period included:

• Using Mobile Phones – over 270
• Unaccompanied learner drivers – over 340
• No seatbelts – 115

In addition:

• 147 vehicles were seized from learner permit holders driving unaccompanied
• 444 vehicles were seized for having no tax or insurance

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.