The Christmas road safety plan begins when Gardaí says that this year a 133% increase in drug driving incidents

THE AUTHORITIES HAVE LAUNCHED their annual road safety appeal for the Christmas period, after figures to date indicate that there has been a 133% increase in the number of people driving under the influence of drugs.

Last weekend, when the campaign began, Gardaí detected 85 people driving under the influence of alcohol and 26 driving under the influence of drugs.

Despite the fact that traffic volumes were reduced by as much as 70% at times this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a 133% increase in the number of people detected driving under the influence of drugs in our roads (that’s 2,537 detected incidents date compared to 1,192 detections for the same period in 2019).

Since speed is another important factor in traffic collisions, Gardaí is advising the public to drive within the speed limit.

An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the State Department for International and Road Transport and Logistics today launched the campaign that will focus mainly on detecting those who drive after having ingested alcohol or drugs.

The campaign began last Friday, December 4, and will run until Tuesday, January 5, when Gardaí says it will have a “visible presence of the forces of order throughout the country.”

As part of the Christmas and New Years Safety campaign, An Garda Síochána will also hold a ‘National Speed ​​Reduction Day’ on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th December to detect people who are speeding in our roads.

With the reduction in traffic on our highways, we have increased speed detections by 26% this year (119,673 to 151,055).

Gardaí statements,

Speaking today, Deputy Commissioner Paula Hilman said that Ireland is now the second safest country in the European Union.

“However, sadly, even though traffic volumes were reduced during the blockade periods, 136 people lost their lives on our roads in 2020.

Our members will continue to enforce all road traffic legislation with a particular emphasis on life-saving violations, including driving under the influence, speeding, seatbelt use, and mobile phone use.

“A Garda Síochána would ask all road users to remember the basics of road safety. Our message is clear: don’t drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or a combination of both.

Please stay safe this Christmas.

Liz O’Donnell, president of the Highway Safety Authority, said the consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs can be “devastating.”

I would ask anyone who is about to drive after drinking alcohol to stop and wait until they are alcohol free and safe to drive. If you see a friend or family member about to drive under the influence of alcohol, intervene, offer them a taxi or, if necessary, call the Gardaí.

“Allowing someone to drive under the influence is simply not worth the risk. We want everyone to enjoy the festive period, but we want people to do it sensibly and safely. “

Minister Naughton commented: “We expect to see a lifting of national travel restrictions on Friday, December 18. For many, this will allow us to visit and reunite with our families and friends again. This will inevitably mean that the roads will be very busy.

“Don’t forget that pedestrians will have to socially distance themselves when walking on trails and on the roadside where there are none. A safe and peaceful Christmas is something that we can all enjoy if we practice good road safety habits ”.