Sharp rise in drink driving offences
In the first three weeks of December, there were 977 drink driving arrests. This compares with 900 arrests for the same period last year. Over 1,600 more motorists have been caught speeding, while 503 drivers and passengers were found to be travelling without a seat belt during the first three weeks of the Christmas road safety campaign.
A garda spokesman said that people arrested after the Intoxilyzer test are charged before they leave the garda station and can face losing their licence within weeks.
