Gardaí are urging all road users to slow down, adhere to speed limits, and adjust their driving to suit the weather, traffic, and road conditions. Motorists are advised to allow extra time for their journeys and prioritize safety.

An Garda Síochána's Christmas road traffic enforcement operation, which began on Friday, November 29th, will continue until Monday, January 6th.

As of now, 170 people have died in road traffic collisions on Irish roads this year. While this is 10 fewer deaths than the same period in 2023, gardaí stress that the figure remains unacceptably high.

During the weekend of December 20th–22nd, two fatalities and eight serious collisions were reported, leaving several individuals with severe and life-threatening injuries. Over the same weekend, nearly 1,000 checkpoints were conducted, including Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) and high-visibility policing operations.

A total of 101 Individuals were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs during this period, bringing the number of such arrests to 590 since the campaign began. Additionally, more than 1,200 drivers were detected for speeding offences, thanks to An Garda Síochána and its road safety partner, GoSafe.

The highest speeds recorded In various zones were:


· 92 km/h in a 50 km/h zone on the R408, Rathcoffey, Co Kildare

· 99 km/h in a 60 km/h zone on the R463, Parteen, Co Clare

· 150 km/h in an 80 km/h zone on the R445, Castleconnell,

Limerick

· 160 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on the N60, Barnagreggaun, Co Mayo

· 161 km/h in a 120 km/h zone on the M18, Gort, Co Galway


Gardaí continue to appeal to all road users to drive responsibly and help prevent further tragedies during this festive period.