Garda checkpoints will be set up across the city and county targeting drink driving and speeding for the St Patrick’s Festival weekend.
And ‘morning after’ drivers have been warned they may still be over the limit without even realising it.
Superintendent Noel Kelly, Head of Traffic for the Garda Western Region, said the St Patrick’s campaign will also be targeting dangerous and careless driving; failure to wear seat belts and driving while distracted through use of mobile phones or fatigue, etc.
“In particular, I would remind drivers of the dangers of driving the morning after the night before. 12% of all drink driving arrests occur between 8am and 2pm and of those, almost a third happen on a Sunday, peaking between 11am and 2pm.
“So it is critical that drivers take measures to ensure their safety and the safety of others, and this means leaving the car at home and taking a taxi or public transport the morning after if they need to get somewhere. It’s just not worth taking a chance if you are still over the legal limit.
“The safest thing to do if you’re heading out for the night is to plan your journey home by organising a lift, a taxi or using public transport,” said Supt Kelly.
Marked and unmarked Garda cars will be on duty as part of the enforcement campaign.
“Gardaí will be patrolling the road network throughout Western Region over the St Patrick’s Festival period in marked and unmarked vehicles and would like to remind drivers that in addition to mandatory breath testing, they can be tested if they commit any road traffic offence. So please make sensible choices when using the roads and never, ever, drink and drive.
“An Garda Síochána are asking all road users to act responsibly and safely on the roads. Drink-driving destroys lives – at best, you could lose your licence, but far worse, and far more difficult to live with, is the possibility of seriously injuring or killing someone on the roads,” said Supt Kelly.
He also appealed to people to make sure friends get home safely, particularly if they are intoxicated.
“I would encourage people to look out for each other – if your friend or relative is under the influence of alcohol, make sure they get home safely. Pedestrians should ensure that they are wearing high-viz clothing while walking on roads and to be conscious of their safety at all times,” he said.
Moyagh Murdock, Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority said: “St Patrick’s Festival is traditionally a time for people to enjoy a break from work, school or college, and enjoy the festivities around the country.
“We’re not suggesting that people don’t enjoy themselves, but we would urge people to act safely and responsibly, particularly when it comes to alcohol and road use. If you decide to go out for the night, leave the car at home and take the sensible option by using a designated driver or getting a taxi, hackney to and from your destination.”
So far this year, there have been 200 drink driving arrests in the Western Garda Region – which compares to 281 in Dublin; 267 in the Southern Region; 196 in the Eastern; 187 in the South Eastern and 177 in the Northern.
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