Gardaí make six arrests on the roads in Laois Offaly at the weekend
A total of 98 checkpoints were conducted at locations across Laois and Offaly
Laois Offaly Gardaí arrested six people on suspicion of intoxicated driving and caught four dozen speeding motorists over the June Bank Holiday Weekend.
Garda Inspector Ralph Holmes said “on a positive note, we had no fatalities or serious road traffic collisions in the road traffic division over the Bank Holiday Weekend.” He thanked people for driving safely in the two counties.
However, Inspector Holmes, who is over Roads Policing in the Laois/Offaly Garda Division, said the message still wasn’t getting through to all motorists.
He said that a total of 48 people were caught speeding on roads across Laois and Offaly and a further ten were detected using mobile phones while driving. Gardaí also arrested six people for driving under the influence of drink or drugs, he said.
“We were out in force at the weekend,” Inspector Holmes explained. He said there were 98 checkpoints conducted at locations across Laois and Offaly. The majority of motorists who were arrested were detected either at checkpoints or during speeding stops, said Inspector Holmes.
There was a full program of Mandatory Intoxicant Checkpoints(MIT) rolled out by all uniform Gardai and Roads Policing Garda members across the weekend, along with speed checks on the approach roads to towns and villages across the two counties, he stated.
He said speeding offences were detected at locations including Portlaoise, Mountrath, Mountmellick, Clonaslee, Garyhinch, Cloghan, Banagher and Portarlington.
Inspector Holmes said that while Gardaí are happy that there were no lives lost on the roads in Laois or Offaly at the weekend, “maybe the message isn’t getting through as much as we would like.” He issued a warning to motorists who speed, drive while distracted or drive under the influence that Gardai are policing the roads and they will be caught sooner or later. “The proof is in the pudding,” he said.
Nationally, Gardaí said there were three fatal road traffic collisions on the roads. The total number of fatalities on Irish roads to date this year is 72.
Gardaí said more than 4,000 drivers were caught speeding during the Bank Holiday Weekend Policing operation which ran from Thursday, May 28 to the morning of Tuesday, June 2. A total of 187 people were arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant (alcohol and drugs). More than 400 drivers were detected for holding a mobile phone or not wearing a seatbelt.
A driver in Laois was among the notable speeding detections which Gardaí used to highlight unacceptable driving on Monday, June 1. The motorist was detected driving 108kph in an 80km zone on the R430 at Crettyard.
In Dublin a driver was caught doing 107kph in a 50km zone and in Drung in Co Cavan another driver was caught doing 100kph in a 60km zone.
Gardaí urged road users to be mindful of and take extra caution around vulnerable road users, in particular pedestrians and cyclists.
“Walking home or cycling under the influence of alcohol or drugs can also put you and other road users at risk. Cyclists and pedestrians should stay visible and always observe their surroundings,” they stated.
They reminded motorists to always drive within the speed limit. Always wear a seatbelt and never use a mobile phone when driving. Keep distractions out of the vehicle and to pay full attention to the road.