GARDAÍ ARRESTED 745 people for driving under the influence over the last month. 

An Garda Síochána’s Christmas and New Year road safety campaign commenced on 1 December and concluded on 3 January. 

Gardaí carried out an information led operation which targeted the four life saver offences of intoxicated driving, speeding, use of mobile phone while driving and non-wearing of seatbelts. 

These offence types were targeted as evidence shows they are the key contributors to causing fatal and serious injury road traffic collisions. 

Throughout the campaign, 7,405 checkpoints were conducted nationwide.

Between 1 December and 3 January, a total of 745 people were arrested for driving under the influence, 136 of whom were arrested on suspicion of drug driving.

During this period, a total of 256 seatbelt offences were detected and 932 drivers were detected using their mobile phones.

14,704 speeding offences were detected and 4,829 road traffic collisions were reported to An Garda Síochána.

“In December 2022, sadly, 16 people lost their lives on Irish roads,” Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman said.

“I would appeal to all road users to consider their actions and behaviours on the roads,” she said. 

“We all share the road space and therefore it is a shared responsibility for making our roads safer.

“I would ask all road users to work with us to reduce serious injury and fatal road traffic collisions by adhering to the rules of the road and adapting their behaviour to suit road and environmental conditions.”