ALMOST 200 people were arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant during the May Bank Holiday weekend. 

An extensive Garda Roads Policing Operation was in place from 7am last Thursday to 7am this morning.

There was one fatality and nine serious collisions, resulted in 10 people receiving serious and life-threatening injuries, on Irish roads during this period.

Since 1 January this year, 71 people have been killed on Irish roads – 15 more lives lost in road traffic collisions than this time last year.

Over this Bank Holiday period, gardaí carried out more than 1,090 Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) checkpoints.

A total of 5,349 roadside drug and alcohol tests were conducted by gardaí, leading to the arrest of 196 people for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. 

Throughout the weekend, gardaí detected over 900 drivers for speeding offences while out on Irish roads using hand held speed detection technology.

Notable top speeds detected include:

• 81km/h in a 50km/h zone on the N61 at Knockcroghery, Co Roscommon
• 127km/h in a 60km/h zone on the R188 near Doocassan, Co Cavan
• 136km/h in an 80km/h zone along the R731 at Rathnure, Co Wexford
• 153km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N11 Newcastle, Co Wicklow

Gardaí also seized a total 613 vehicles for a range of road traffic offences under Section 41 of the Roads Traffic Act.

“The vast majority of road users supported our operation over the long weekend to keep people safe, but it is of real concern that almost 200 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence,” Chief Superintendent Jane Humphries of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau said.

“There is only so many ways that we can say this and we won’t be polite about it – never, never, ever get behind the wheel of a car while under the influence of drink or drugs. Any day, any time,” Humphries said. 

“The financial penalty, prospect of losing your licence or criminal offence and time in prison might not be enough of a deterrent to some but the potential of causing serious and/or fatal injuries to yourself as well as others should be enough to stop you.”