Roads Policing Message – An Garda Síochána’s Christmas & New Year Campaign / Operation Open City

On 1st December An Garda Síochána’s Christmas & New year campaign begins. Operation Open City is designed to facilitate the movement of public transport and minimise traffic disruption to the general public, through high visibility and enforcement activity’.

In conjunction with ‘Open City’, the Christmas & New Year Enforcement Operation will focus on lifesaver and intoxicated driving offences over the holiday period. Both operations will complement each other with the aim of preventing fatal and serious injury collisions on our roads as well as prevention and detection of crime and public order incidents.

During this period, members of An Garda Síochána’s Roads Policing Units, supported by their colleagues from regular and community policing units across the country will be mounting checkpoints and conducting high visibility and covert patrols, to detect careless, distracted and intoxicated driving among other offences.

This year, 3940 drivers have been arrested for drug driving & 2463 have been arrested for drink driving. This behaviour continues to be a problem on our roads and An Garda Síochána will be mounting extra Mandatory Intoxicant Testing Checkpoints (MIT’s) during this busy festive season to deter anyone thinking of driving while they have drink or drugs in their system. MIT checkpoints are specifically to detect intoxicated drivers. They are authorised by a Garda Inspector and provides Gardaí with the power to stop and test drivers for the presence of drink or drugs in their system regardless of whether they suspect them or not.   

I would ask people going out socialising this Christmas to plan ahead. Leave the car at home. Over the years we have seen where people drive to their destination, with the intention of leaving the car behind and getting a taxi or public transport home. They come out and it’s raining, there are no taxis and suddenly they are behind the wheel driving home. Leave the car at home - it removes the temptation to drive home.

A lot of people will visit relatives over the Christmas period and may have a drink. I would like to remind people that house measures can often be larger than pub or restaurant measures and it’s something that often catches people out.

People should also be mindful of driving the next morning after a night out. Make sure enough time has elapsed to allow the alcohol to pass through your system.

It should also be noted that Garda MIT checkpoints are not just conducted at night. They can take place at any time of the day, morning, noon or night. With that in mind, we would live all drivers to heed the following...

Appeal:

• Never, ever Drink/Drug drive
• Book a taxi or use public transport
• Nominate a Designated Driver
• Make sure you are Alcohol free the next morning

We would also like to appeal to passengers of drivers that may be intoxicated to call them out. Do not get in to a car if you suspect the driver to be intoxicated. Take the keys from them if you can. If this is not possible, call 999 or 112 immediately.

We will be on the roads on a 24/7 basis over the Christmas period, focusing on all lifesaver offences, but particularly driving while intoxicated. We will intercept drink and drug drivers. If convicted, you will lose your licence. Please don’t be one of them.