Gardaí to police roads 'night and day' during festive period
Assistant Garda Commissioner Paula Hilman said more than 7,000 people have been arrested so far this year for driving under the influence, while 17,000 fixed charge notices have been issued this year for mobile phone use while driving. Picture: Colin Keegan/ Collins
Gardaí will be policing Irish roads “night and day” during the high-risk festive season following a “devastating” number of fatalities so far this year.
Some 172 people have lost their lives across 161 collisions so far this year, an increase of 31 from the same time last year.
Meanwhile, 1,088 people have acquired life-changing injuries across 958 collisions.
Assistant Garda Commissioner Paula Hilman said it had been a devastating and unprecedented year in terms of fatalities and serious injuries.
Speaking at the launch of a Christmas road safety appeal with the Road Safety Authority, Ms Hilman said the enforcement operation would begin on Friday at 7am and last until January 4.
“We will be targeting those who still take the risk of drinking alcohol or taking drugs and driving, speeding, use of mobile phones and seatbelt offences,” she said adding it “only takes a second for the unthinkable to happen.”
She said more than 7,000 people have been arrested so far this year for driving under the influence, while 17,000 fixed charge notices have been issued this year for mobile phone use while driving.
Ms Hilman said over 25,000 drug detection tests have been acquired by An Garda Síochána for road testing across the Christmas period, in response to an increase in driving under the influence of drugs.
She said one in every three of those caught driving under the influence were under the influence of drugs.
Additional speed detection devices have also been acquired to increase capability, bringing the number to just over 700.
Ms Hilman said certain times and locations will also be particularly targeted, having analysed data across the last 12 years.
For example, Thursday in particular is the highest risk day, more specifically between 3pm and 6pm.
Pleading with road users to drive safely, Ms Hilman said: “Your family will want you home safe and we certainly don’t want to be visiting your family this Christmas or New Year period to give them that devastating news.”
Justice Minister Helen McEntee said in addition to awareness, visible enforcement was the most effective tool as a deterrent to dangerous driving, adding gardaí would be working “night and day” over the coming month.
“It is our firm intention to redouble our efforts, to double down to do absolutely everything that we can to reverse the really awful trend and the appalling numbers that we’ve seen,” she said.
She added funding of €3.6m has been allocated to allow an increase of 9,000 speed camera hours each month throughout 2024.
Junior Transport Minister Jack Chambers repeated we must “redouble our efforts” following a “horrendous year” in terms of road fatalities and serious injuries, many of which are life-changing.
“I urge everyone to remember that responsible driving is not just a personal choice, but a responsibility we must all share,” he said.
In addition to a new TV advert from the RSA highlighting the benefits of driving at lower speeds, Mr Chambers said “historic and hard-hitting ads” would also be aired.
Although this year’s figures are worrying, RSA chair Liz O’Donnell said the RSA was “not in despair”.
“We’re going to get back to a very healthy situation which we had for so many years. We were on track, we were bringing the fatalities and serious injuries down for many, many years and it’s only in 2021 and 2022 that the trend has started to go up,” she said.
