Over 2,000 drivers caught speeding following 'disappointing' road safety operation
'Extensive' Bank Holiday operation sees 218 arrested for driving under the influence of drink or drugs
The October bank holiday weekend saw three fatalities on Irish roads and 15 serious collisions took place that resulted in a number of people receiving serious and life-threatening injuries.
Over 2,150 drivers were detected for speeding offences as part of an extensive Garda Roads Policing Operation in place over the October bank holiday weekend.
A driver in county Meath was caught driving at 167km/h, more than double the speed limit in an 80km/h zone by gardaí.
Other notable top speeds detected included a driver in Tipperary detected doing 159km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N24 at Carrick-On-Suir, and a driver clocked at 146km/h in an 80km/h zone on the R339 near Oranmore in Galway.
"It is disappointing that in spite of public awareness campaigns and widespread efforts among both gardaí and relevant partners such as the Road Safety Authority urging motorists to slow down - drivers continue to travel at dangerously excessive speeds on Irish roads," An Garda Síochana said in a statement this Wednesday morning.
"Anyone prepared to drive at the speeds that were detected over the Bank Holiday weekend has the potential to destroy lives, including their own."
Over this Bank Holiday period, An Garda Síochána said they carried out over 880 Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) checkpoints which led to over 218 arrests for driving under the influence of an intoxicant.
60 of those were detected between 7am on Monday, October 28 and 7am on Tuesday, October 29.
More than 40 drivers were arrested for dangerous driving, while hundreds of Fixed Charge Notices were issued for other road offences during this period including: 209 for using a mobile phone; over 200 for unaccompanied learner drivers; over 75 for No Seatbelts; and more than 375 for drivers with no tax or insurance.
Over 500 vehicles were seized by Gardaí for a range of offences under the Road Traffic Act, 1961.
"Enforcing road traffic laws is a core element of road safety, however, there is a personal responsibility on every road user to exercise caution to ensure their safety and the safety of others," the statement released by An Garda Síochana said.