Drink driving arrests averaging 30 a day

Almost 30 drink drivers a day have been arrested so far this year, it emerged today.

The figures were announced by An Garda Siochana Assistant Commissioner Eddie Rock at the launch of a foreign language road safety campaign.

An extra 28 Garda patrol vehicles will be hitting the roads tomorrow to tackle dangerous driving.

He also revealed 60 new officers would be visible on streets within the next five weeks.

The safety campaign is being launched alongside a St Patrick’s Day initiative urging all those who plan to drink, to leave their car at home.

Appealing to drivers to make alternative arrangements over the weekend Mr Rock confirmed 2,154 arrests have been made so far this year in relation to drink driving.

He said: “We do not want to be killjoys or spoil anyone’s weekend but we do not want them to spoil somebody else’s and end it in tragedy.”

The safety campaign will feature leaflets and posters being translated into eight foreign languages targeting minority ethnic groups from Russia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, France, Brazil, China and the Arabic countries.

It focuses on legal requirements and road safety advice when driving in Ireland including speed limits, penalties and the NCT.