More than 50 suspected drink driving offences as clampdown continues

MORE than 50 motorists were caught on suspicion of drink driving over Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day, according to garda figures.

However, gardaí warned a road safety clampdown would continue over the of the festive season. “Garda enforcement activities in all areas of road safety will continue, with drink driving being prioritised for enforcement,” said a garda spokeswoman. She said provisional figures indicated more than 50 suspected drink driving offences occurred over the two holy days. “An Garda Síochána continue to encourage people not to drink and drive and to drive within the speed limits,” she said.

Prior to the Christmas break, garda chiefs said that their road safety campaign for Christmas and the New Year would focus on drink driving, speeding and not wearing seat belts. Garda figures show that around 375 suspected drink drivers were being recorded every week, in comparison with an average of around 250 before the introduction of random alcohol testing on July 21.