A Laois driver has been caught driving at eyewatering speeds on a rural road.

Gardaí have launched their Christmas road safety campaign, cracking down on driving offences across the country.

This comes as the country was shocked by three deaths in two separate Tipperary car accidents this past weekend.

One Laois driver was caught doing 150kmph in an 80km zone along the R430 near Crettyard, Laois.

Pictured: The R430, Crettyard. Photo: Maps

An Garda Síochána is conducting a dedicated road traffic enforcement operation throughout the Christmas period which began on Monday, 1st December 2025 and will continue until Monday, 5th January 2026.

During the second week of the operation, between Monday December 8 and Sunday December 14 inclusive, there were eight fatalities on our roads and 17 serious collisions that resulted in a number of people receiving serious and life-threatening injuries.

Over the past week, An Garda Síochána carried out over 1,738 checkpoints, both statutory Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) and regular, high-visibility policing checkpoints.

147 people were arrested during this period for driving under the influence of an intoxicant (alcohol and drugs).

Over 3,265 drivers were detected for speeding offences by An Garda Síochána and Mobile Safety Camera Vans by our Road Safety Partners, GoSafe.

Notable top speeds detected include:

• 101km/h in a 50km/h on Newtownpark Avenue in Blackrock, Co. Dublin
• 118km/h in a 60km/h on the N15 in Stranorlar, Co. Donegal
• 149km/h in an 80km/h zone on the R430 in Crettyyard, Co. Laois
• 192km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N56 in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
• 201km/h in a 120km/h zone on the M18 in Kinvara, Co. Galway

Over 600 vehicles were seized by Gardaí for a range of offences under the Road Traffic Act, 1961.

In addition, approximately 330 Fixed Charge Notices were issued for the offence of using a mobile phone while driving and approximately 85 Fixed Charge Notices were issued for seat belt offences.

The Christmas period is one of the busiest on Irish roads. It is also one of the periods during which road users are at the highest risk of being involved in a fatal or serious road traffic collision.

To date, 179 people have lost their lives in road traffic collisions on Irish roads.

An Garda Síochána is appealing to all those who will be taking to the roads over the Christmas period to slow down, take extra care and to give your driving your full attention.

"Anyone who is out socialising with colleagues, friends and family over the festive period is asked to please plan ahead for your journey. Leave the car at home. Use taxis and public transport where possible to get home and avoid driving the following morning while still under the influence," Gardaí said.

"Members of An Garda Síochána are out day and night across the country as part of our enforcement campaign and will intercept drivers who are putting their lives and the lives of others at risk," they finished.

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