Operation Iompair - DMR Roads Policing Division

Unfortunately, there has been a rise in the number of fatal road traffic collisions over the last number of years. Last year was the worst year for fatal road traffic collisions since 2016.

Operation Iompair is an initiative by An Garda Síochána’s Roads Policing Division to tackle distracted driving on our roads. This initiative uses an unmarked truck, crewed by two Gardaí, who patrol the motorways and dual carriageways of the greater Dublin area to detect drivers committing offences such as holding their mobile phone while driving, watching films on laptops or tablets or any other conduct that distracts from their driving.

This is a pilot programme which began in the summer of 2024 and is currently run by the D.M.R. Roads Policing Division. At the conclusion of the pilot programme, the results from each deployment will be analysed and a decision will then be made whether to roll the project nationwide with the purchase of additional trucks.

The operation uses the unmarked truck, followed closely behind by a number of unmarked “interceptor” Garda vehicles who stop vehicles over who have committed an offence. The most common offence is holding a mobile phone while driving, which comes with a fixed charge notice of €120 and three penalty points.

The benefit of the truck is its elevated seating position, which allows Gardaí to clearly observe drivers of other trucks, vans or cars holding a mobile phone or otherwise engaging in distracted driving. This is something that cannot always be seen using conventional patrol cars or motorcycles.

During a typical Operation Iompair deployment, gardaí are detecting between 25 and 30 distracted driving offences, - holding a mobile phone and a large portion of those drivers are looking and interacting with the phone.  You are four times more likely to be involved in a road traffic collision when holding your phone while driving. This can be particularly devastating if you are driving a heavy goods vehicle that can weigh over 40 tonnes.

As of 18th September 2024, Gardaí have issued over 16,000 fixed charge notices for drivers holding a phone while driving. That’s up 13 per cent on the same period in 2023. The message is still not getting through so some drivers.  An Garda Síochána hopes that this new initiative will help to change driver’s behaviour and make the roads safer.

Roads Policing