Clampdown on driving offences to remain in place

THE May bank holiday garda clampdown on motoring offences, and especially those related to alcohol consumption, will remain in force until midnight tomorrow.

Eighty-six people were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of drink driving, bringing the total number of drink-related arrests on Saturdays during April to almost 400.

Deaths on the roads on Saturdays and Sundays account for almost 50% of all road deaths and a garda spokesperson said drink driving continues to be a very serious concern.

So far this year, 136 people have been killed in road accidents, compared to 115 for the same period last year. Operation Lifesaver will target drink driving in particular.

Gardaí pulled out all the stops at the weekend to ensure increased enforcement.

Arrests for drink related offences this year have increased by 18%.

Over the last three weeks, more than 10,000 fixed charge or penalty point offences have been detected by gardaí, so as well as observing drink driving rules, people are being advised to keep within speed limits and wear seatbelts.

Road collisions claimed the lives of two people since Friday — a man in Cork and a woman in Cavan.

Gardaí named the motorcyclist who died in a road crash in Co Cork on Saturday as 38-year-old Liam Hogan from Ardsallagh, Youghal, Co Cork.

Mr Hogan died when his motorcycle collided with a concrete bollard an Dunkettle, Glanmire, at about 12.20pm.

On Friday last, a woman in her 70s died following a collision in Co Cavan.

She was the driver of a car which collided with a wall at Ballinagh Road, Cavan, at 4.50pm.