Bank Holiday weekend drink-driving arrests total 323

Some 323 motorists were arrested for drink-driving over the bank holiday weekend, Gardai revealed tonight.

The number equates to more than three drivers arrested every hour from midnight on Thursday to the same time on Monday.

Just over a third of the offences (116) were detected through the recently-introduced mandatory alcohol testing powers handed to Gardai last month.

A total of 12,450 random tests were carried out at 1,342 different checkpoints throughout the state over the four-day period.

On average, 1% of all people stopped were over the limit – almost half the detection rate (1.7%) for the previous weekend.

Highest rates of drink-drivers found by random testing were in the Garda South Eastern Region, taking in Waterford, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Wexford and Wicklow. Gardai arrested 17 motorists, or 1.8%, out of 906 tests at 116 checkpoints.

There were 79 road stops and 1,687 tests leading to 13 arrests (0.8%) in the Eastern Region, which includes Louth, Meath, Longford, Westmeath, Carlow, Kildare, Laois and Offaly.

The Dublin Metropolitan Region had a detection rate of 50 arrests (1.3%) from 3,862 tests at 305 checkpoints.

In the Southern Region, taking in Cork City, Cork East, Cork West, Kerry and Limerick, there were 305 checkpoints and 1,506 alcometer tests leading to 14 arrests (0.9%).

Some five people (0.5%) were detained in the Western Region of Mayo, Roscommon, Galway East, Galway West and Clare as a result of 1,275 tests at 152 road stops.

The smallest detection rates were in the Northern Region – Cavan, Monaghan, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal – where 385 checkpoints and 3,214 tests led to 17 arrests (0.5%).

“Please note that, contrary to some media reports, this operation was not a singular blitz and that the Garda Siochana are committed to continuing high levels of road safety enforcement activities, utilising the new Mandatory Alcohol Testing and existing legislation,” said Superintendent Kevin Donohoe of the Garda Press Office.

“In this regard a continuous series of operations are scheduled nationwide involving resources dedicated to the Garda Traffic Corps and those engaged on regular policing duties, with a view to improving road safety and reducing lives lost on Irish roads.”

Three people lost their lives on Irish roads during the weeked.