An Garda Síochána is conducting a dedicated road traffic enforcement operation throughout the Christmas period which began on Friday, 29th November 2024 and will continue until Monday, 6th January 2025. To date, 170 people have lost their lives in road traffic collisions on Irish roads, while this is 10 less deaths on our roads than the same period in 2023,it is far too high. During the last weekend of this operation before Christmas, Friday 20th – Sunday 22nd, there was 2 fatalities on our roads and 8 serious collisions that resulted in a number of people receiving serious and life-threatening injuries. Over the weekend An Garda Síochána carried out nearly 1,000 checkpoints, both statutory Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) and regular high-visibility policing checkpoints. 101 people were arrested during this period for driving under the influence of an intoxicant (alcohol and drugs). This brings to 590 Drivers the number arrested since the start of the Christmas Enforcement Campaign on the 29th November 2024. Over 1,200 drivers were detected for speeding offences by An Garda Síochána and Mobile Safety Camera Vans by our Road Safety Partners, GoSafe. The highest speeds detected in various speed zones were 92 kph in a 50 kph zone on the R408, Rathcoffey, Co. Kildare 99 kph in a 60 kph zone on the R463, Parteen, Co. Clare 150 kph in a 80 kph zone on the R445, Castleconnell, Limerick 160 kph in a 100 kph zone on the N60, Barnagreggaun, Co. Mayo 161 kph in a 120 kph zone on the M18, Gort, Co. Galway Nearly 200 vehicles were seized by Gardaí for a range of offences under the Road Traffic Act, 1961. The Christmas period is one of the busiest on Irish roads. It is also one of the periods during which road users are at the highest risk of being involved in a fatal or serious road traffic collision. An Garda Síochána is appealing to all those that will be taking to the roads over the Christmas period to slow down, drive within the speed limit and at an appropriate speed for the weather, traffic and road conditions. Take extra care and time to complete your journey. An Garda Síochána appeals to all drivers, never drive under the influence of any intoxicant. | 