Garda crackdown to tackle holiday road safety

ROAD safety was stepped up a gear from 12am last night, with gardaí promising the toughest-ever crackdown on bank holiday offenders.

Speeding, drink driving and reckless driving by young male drivers will be targeted but gardaí will also focus on those not wearing seat belts.

Seat belt use is being reinforced with penalty points for offences due to be introduced later this month. Chief Superintendent Denis Fitzpatrick, who heads the traffic corps, said 24,000 people were caught this year not wearing seat belts.