OVER 750 PEOPLE were arrested over the Christmas period for drink or drug driving, gardaí confirmed today.

An Garda Síochána began its Christmas policing operation on 1 December, which continued up until Monday, 5 January.

In that time, there were 26 road deaths and over 70 serious collisions that resulted in a number of people receiving serious or life-threatening injuries. 

Of the 765 total people arrested for driving while intoxicated, 56% of those (around 428 people) were primarily under the influence of alcohol, while 44% (around 337 people) were primarily under the influence of drugs.

Nearly 26,500 drivers were detected speeding, and gardaí carried out nearly 10,000 checkpoints.

Nearly 1,700 Fixed Charged Notices were issued to drivers found to be using a mobile phone while driving and over 450 were issued to people found not to be wearing seatbelts.

There were also close to 3,000 vehicles seized for a range of offences under the Road Traffic Act, 59% of those seized primarily due to having no insurance.

Gardaí shared some of the most egregious speeding offences recorded over the Christmas period as it warned against taking risks on the roads: highlighting one driver who was caught at a speed of 237km/hr in a 100km/hr zone in Kildare, and another driver who was recorded at a speed of 140km/hr in a 60km/hr zone in Stranorlar, Co Donegal.

Over the course of 2025, 190 people were killed in road traffic collisions in Ireland. In 2026, two people have already lost their lives on Irish roads.

A garda spokesperson said: “765 drivers made a choice to drive after consuming alcohol and/ or drugs. Nearly 26,500 drivers made a choice to drive substantially in excess of the legally posted speed limit.

“In doing so, these drivers put themselves, their passengers and all other road users at serious risk of death or injury. These drivers did not think of any consequences.

“The 190 people who died on Irish roads left behind grieving families, friends, colleagues and traumatised communities.”

Gardaí urged all drivers to never drive while under the influence of an intoxicant, obey all posted speed limits, never drive while distracted, and always wear a seatbelt in 2026.