'Unacceptable' - 26 people lost their lives on Irish roads over Christmas period

An Garda Síochána carried out a dedicated road traffic enforcement operation across Ireland throughout the 2025 Christmas period which began on Monday December 1, 2025, and continued until Monday, January 5, 2026.

During this period, there were 26 fatalities on our roads and over 70 serious collisions that resulted in a number of people receiving serious and life-threatening injuries.

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During the course of the operation, An Garda Síochána carried out nearly 10,000 checkpoints, both statutory Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) and regular, high-visibility policing checkpoints.

765 people were arrested during this period for driving under the influence of an intoxicant (56% primarily alcohol and 44% primarily drugs).

Nearly 26,500 drivers were detected for speeding offences by An Garda Síochána, Mobile Safety Camera Vans and Static Safety Cameras by our Road Safety Partners, GoSafe.

Gardaí seized nearly 3,000 vehicles for a range of offences under the Road Traffic Act, 1961, 59% primarily for no insurance.

In addition, nearly 1,700 Fixed Charge Notices were issued for the offence of using a mobile phone while driving and over 450 Fixed Charge Notices to vehicle users for non-wearing of seatbelts.

Notable speeds during the road traffic enforcement operation included:

• 119km/hr in a 50km/hr zone on the Drummartin Link Road, Dublin 14
• 107km/hr in a 50km/hr zone on the N20 in Cork city
• 140 km/hr in a 60km/hr zone on the N15 in Stranorlar, Co. Donegal
• 122km/hr in a 60km/hr zone in Oola, Co. Limerick

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• 185km/hr in an 80km/hr zone on the N80, Clonegal, Co. Carlow
• 167 km/hr in an 80km/hr zone on the R430, Crettyyard, Co. Laois
• 237km/hr in a 100km/hr zone on the N7, Johnstown, Co. Kildare
• 192km/hr in a 100km/hr zone on the N25, Kilmeaden, Co. Waterford
• 201km/hr in a 120km/hr zone on the M18, Kinvara, Co. Galway
• 174km/hr in a 120km/hr zone on the M1, Drogheda, Co. Louth

190 people lost their lives in road traffic collisions on Irish roads in 2025. Two people have already lost their lives on Irish roads in 2026.

765 drivers made a choice to drive after consuming alcohol and/ or drugs. Nearly 26,500 drivers made a choice to drive substantially in excess of the legally posted speed limit.

In doing so, these drivers put themselves, their passengers and all other road users at serious risk of death or injury. These drivers did not think of any consequences.

The 190 people who died on Irish roads left behind grieving families, friends, colleagues and traumatised communities.

The drivers who chose to drive while under the influence of an intoxicant and in excess of the speed limit also live in our communities and have families, friends, work colleagues who can influence them.

As a community working together we have shown before that we can reduce road deaths on Irish roads.

As a community we need to change attitudes to road traffic offences such as driving while intoxicated and speeding and make them unacceptable in our society.

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An Garda Síochána is appealing to all drivers on our roads during 2026 to do the right thing:

• Never drive under the influence of an intoxicant
• Drive within the posted speed limit and at an appropriate speed to the conditions
• Never drive while distracted
• Always wear a seatbelt

An Garda Síochána is appealing to every road user to put their safety first this year.

As a community working together in 2026 we can again reduce the level of road deaths on Irish roads.