We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
OVER THE BANK holiday weekend, gardaí stopped 105 motorists for suspected drink driving as well as 55 suspected drug driving offences.
In addition, gardaí detected 2,624 instances of excessive speed over the weekend with one motorist clocked at over 200 km/h.
Four people died on the country’s roads over the weekend with 10 people suffering serious injuries. There were no fatalities on the same weekend last year.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragedy seen on our roads at the weekend. I want to take this opportunity to send our condolences to all of those affected,” Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman said.
An Garda Síochána views any road death as one too many and we will continue to work together with our partners in road safety to reduce road deaths.
The senior garda added that some of the practices by motorists that was observed by gardaí is unacceptable: “The level of endangerment we encountered over the weekend is not acceptable. Despite our best efforts to proactively engage and educate drivers, too many are still taking chances and putting people’s lives at risk.”
An Garda Síochána / TwitterMeath Roads Policing Unit detected a car driving 103kph over the speed limit while conducting speed checks on the M3 motorway yesterday morning. Road conditions were wet and greasy. Proceedings are underway for the offending driver.#SlowDown pic.twitter.com/Y8OLdjuFWn
— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) August 6, 2020
Gardaí from divisions across the country detected drivers under the influence of alcohol or one or more illegal drugs.
In Monaghan, gardaí observed a car performing “donuts” at Tyholland with the driver arrested after a short pursuit.
In Ballyshannon, Co Donegal gardaí arrested a motorist at a checkpoint who tested positive for cocaine and cannabis.
At the N81 dual carriageway in Tallaght in Dublin, seven arrests were made for intoxicated driving offences, four who tested positive for alcohol and three for illegal drugs.
A number of vehicles were detected travelling at very high speed, with one motorist in Clare travelling at 197 km/h and a motorist on the M1 motorway in Louth driving at 203 km/h.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
The Passat flying back over the border will be grand.
@M: just get rid of Bank holiday’s altogether they dont means anything anymore and people just lose there minds which an extra day off !
@Pat Kelly: Move them to Wednesdays, done.
They give the numbers of caught, how many were checked and what percentage then were breaking the law, Bet the drink and drug percentage be similar to if they checked those leaving Leinster House.
@Da_Dell: good one
@T Dawg: might even turn up a cache of poppers !
Wonder if he could have got better speed in the dry. Maybe next time
@Tom Jones: hopefully it will be along before they get to sit behind the wheel again.
@barry moore:* time
F in lunatics , that would cause some damage in a crash , unbelievable ejits that shouldn’t be allowed hold any driving licence,
Judge should lock them up for a month for every km they where over the limit
@PMG: just don’t crash.
Is there any chance we can have some good news please? All doom and gloom.
@Its Me: liverpool won the premier league. Will that suffice?
@Paul Gorry: He said GOOD news…..
@Stephen Foster: well that’s UNFORTUNATE for you.
Absolute recklessness
Yer man who got caught doing donuts in Monaghan was only giving out on here a few months ago about the price of them in Dublin
Long bans for them all.
Nothing like a ban and unachievable insurance costs as well as loosing jobs to cure stupidly.
@Michael Clinton: or they just continue to drive with nothing
@Da_Dell:
Unfortunately you are right.
Would love to see estimated stopping distance for vehicle travelling at 223 km/h on a wet + greasy road – God help anything popping up in front of it.
@Pat O’Leary: depends on the vehicle, some sports cars would stop quicker than a normal car at 60, best way to try yourself, no debating then.
Wish I could afford a car that does that kind of speed
103 over motorway speed limit is 223 not 203 as the headline says
@dstaffx: parts of some motorways have a 100kmph speed limit.
@Kendra Jackson: the picture implies 223. So that’s what it was.
@Kendra Jackson: then its not motorway.
wrong
@Kendra Jackson: not on the M3
@Da_Dell: pretty sure the M50 is a motorway.
There is a simple rule about speeding
DON’T GET CAUGHT
or be related to a gov minister
Here we go, country is fukced.
OK, someone please answer: did the people die from speeding?
No not in this instance but you must see the problem with your comment here.
@David Duffy: it’s not the speeding that will kill you, it’s the stopping.
(unless you start approaching the speed of light maybe)
Absolutely shocking figures. Should be trebled at least.
@DJ Dave Wexford Kudos
That is class .Ha Ha Ha .
just checking the speedo calibration officer honest.
“suspected”
See these bad articles that speed? that is why i cant stand those facebook pages warning of checkpoints and speed vans in your area. I NEVER flash at drivers to warn them that there is a speed van ahead. If they are breaking the speed limit, thats their problem!
have your say