“EVERY GARDA ON duty” this weekend will help police Irish roads, as the force aims to reduce road deaths over the Easter Bank Holiday. 

Gardaí have been out since 7am this morning detecting speeding and drink and drug driving.

The roads polciing campaign will run until 7am on Tuesday.

“Many will be planning to gather with family and loved ones over this Easter weekend and Gardaí expect that there will be therefore be more road users on the move,” a garda spokesperson said.

“Every member of An Garda Síochána on-duty this long weekend will be out conducting road traffic enforcement activity but they need the public’s help.”

Gardaí are reminding the public that it’s never safe or acceptable to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after having an intoxicant like alcohol or drugs.

Walking home or cycling under the influence of alcohol or drugs can also put you and other road users at risk, they warned.

“An Garda Síochána is urging road users to take extra caution around vulnerable road users, in particular pedestrians,” the spokesperson continued.

“As the evenings become brighter and the weather improves, pedestrians and cyclists are taking advantage of our road network.”

In 2025 there was a 24% increase in pedestrian road deaths compared to the previous year.

The majority of last year’s 41 pedestrian fatalities occurred on lower speed roads, where the limit is 60km/h or less.

Over a third of pedestrians were crossing the road at the time of the fatal collision.

One-in-4 of the pedestrians killed were older people, while young people under the age of 25 accounted for 30% of seriously injured pedestrians in 2025.