More than 12,000 drivers caught speeding in December Gardaí report

The Garda Christmas and New Year road safety campaign has resulted in thousands of motorists caught breaking speed limits while hundreds of others have been arrested on suspicion of drink or drug driving.

There some of the latest figures from the Gardaí on the road safety enforcement operation began at the end of November and continues until Thursday, morning January 4.

A statement said that over 673 drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant in four weeks. Over 166 of these were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs.

Gardaí also mounted a National Slowdown operation on December 22. In the first 14 hours GoSafe checked the speed of 169,361 vehicles and detected 408 vehicles breaking the speed limit. One of those highlighted was a driver travelling at 143km/h in a 120km/h Zone on the M7 Meelick, Portlaoise.

Fixed charge notices were issued in the four weeks to December 28 as follows;

• Over 12,147 for driving over speed limits;
• 882 for mobile phone use;
• 47 for non-compliance with seatbelts.

Gardaí say they have conducted some 3,714 Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) checkpoints in the operation so far.

The gardaí say that to date, 181 people have lost their lives in road traffic collisions on Irish roads. This is 27 more deaths than at this time last year. There were been no fatalities between December 22 and 28.

The Gardaí continues to appeal to motorists to drive safely on roads through the festive season.

"Never drive under the influence of an intoxicant, reduce speed, always wear a seatbelt and never use a mobile phone while driving," they say.