Ireland sees surge in drink, drug driving arrests over holiday weekend

Mohan Sinha
20 Mar 2026, 12:59 GMT+10

Since the beginning of the Garda St Patrick's bank holiday weekend road safety campaign, there have been two arrests every hour for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
The gardaí said that the number of people arrested for driving drunk or under the influence of drugs over the weekend has risen to 188
Since the operation started on March 13, six people have been killed in road accidents, raising the total number of deaths on Irish roads this year to 38

DUBLIN, Ireland: Since the beginning of the Garda St Patrick's bank holiday weekend road safety campaign, there have been two arrests every hour for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The gardaí said that the number of people arrested for driving drunk or under the influence of drugs over the weekend has risen to 188. The special roads policing operation ended at 7 a.m. on March 18.

Since the operation started on March 13, six people have been killed in road accidents, raising the total number of deaths on Irish roads this year to 38.

So far, 4,250 drivers have been caught speeding. Gardaí are conducting mandatory alcohol and drug tests and regular, highly visible checkpoints.

Some of the speeds recorded on march 16 included a driver going 121 km/h in an 80 km/h zone in Cootehill, County Cavan; another driving at 85 km/h in a 50 km/h zone on Boreenmanna Road in Cork; a vehicle travelling at 98 km/h in a 60 km/h zone in Cloongad, Riverstown, County Sligo; and a motorist clocked at 125 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on the N55 in Tullygullin, Kilcogy, County Cavan.

More than 450 drivers have also been caught either using a mobile phone or failing to wear a seatbelt since the operation began.

Authorities urged all drivers to slow down, be extra careful, and give their full attention to the road.

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