One arrest as road safety campaign gets underway in Kilkenny

Additional garda checkpoints will be in place across Kilkenny City and county over the bank holiday weekend as part of a road safety campaign.

The campaign kicked off at 7am this morning and will continue until 7am on Tuesday morning.

One person was arrested earlier today on suspicion of drug driving.

"There will be additional mandatory alcohol and drug testing checkpoints and we will also be carrying out extra speed checks," said Divisional Roads Policing Inspector Paul Donohoe. The inspector added that there will be a significant garda presence on Kilkenny's road over the bank holiday weekend with extra garda resources being deployed.

"We are warning drivers not to speed and to stay away from their mobile phones when driving. Driver fatigue is also often a contributing factor in collisions so if people are tired they should not drive," he said.

Insp Donohoe highlighted that checkpoints will be in place on roads early in the morning and warned people to avoid 'the morning after' detection.

"If you are out socialising and having a few drinks then be aware of that the following morning and do not drive if you think you might be under the influence," he said.

The inspector also warned that many drugs can stay in people's systems for two weeks and that drivers can test positive and receive a mandatory disqualification days after consuming the intoxicant.