AN GARDA SÍOCHÁNA launched their Christmas Enforcement Campaign this afternoon, placing a number of ‘high visibility’ checkpoints on roads in Dublin and Kildare.

Continuing over the Christmas period, the operation will be aimed at common motoring offences, such as drink-driving and using a mobile phone while behind the wheel.

They will also be maintaining a presence on motorway as a way of “denying criminals unchallenged use of the motorway network”.

They will also be handing out high visibility equipment to cyclists and pedestrians, something which also started earlier today and continues this evening.

Here are the results of the Garda Checkpoints:

• 3 vehicles were found to be over the speed limit out of 1,730 checked over a 3-hour period at Feltrim, Malahide Road, Dublin,.
• 3 vehicles were found to over the speed limit out of  1,459 checked over a 2.5-hour period at Mooretown, Naas, County Kildare,.
• 1 detection was recorded during at a Mandatory Alcohol Testing checkpoint which tested 200 drivers over 1 hour on the M1 Motorway at Swords, County Dublin.

Assistant Commissioner and Head of the Traffic Corps John Twomey said that while they want everyone to enjoy Christmas, they must “also remind people that An Garda Síochána will be out in force, the message simply is Never Ever Drink and Drive”.

He called it “tragic” that “that 177 people won’t get the opportunity to sit down and enjoy the Christmas festivities with family and friends this year”.

Last month alone, 677 drivers were arrested for Driving under the influence of an intoxicant. In this day and age it is totally unacceptable that 677 people made that decision to drink and drive.

So far this year, more than 400,000 drivers were breath tested on Irish roads, with over 7,200, or just under 2 per cent, testing positive.

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