Directive for uniformed gardaí to do 30-minutes of high-visibility roads policing 'well received'

Gardaí have issued 45,951 fixed charge notices for speeding so far this year. Picture: Stephen Collins/Collins 

The new operation which sees Garda members undertake 30 minutes of high-visibility roads policing duty during every uniform tour of duty has been “very well received” by members.

The directive was introduced last month in response to rising deaths on Irish roads. 

Both Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Deputy Commissioner Paula Hilman said the increase in Garda visibility on the roads as a result of the operation showed the public there was “active engagement.” 

The operation has already been successful since it began on April 12, with a major increase in detections of crimes on the roads when compared to the previous four weeks, according to Mr Harris.

Figures from the Garda roads policing unit showed that since April, there has been:

• A 55% increase in fixed charge notices being issued for mobile phone use (2,148 issued);
• A 40% increase in the number of breath tests conducted at MIT checkpoints (19,100 in total);
• A 17% increase in those detected driving under the influence (736 incidents);
• A 30% increase in the number of vehicles seized under Section 41 of the Road Traffic Acts as amended (3,111 vehicles).

Up to last week, almost 10,000 vehicles had been seized by gardaí this year so far, with Mr Harris saying it was for a number of reasons, including no valid NCT cert, a lack of insurance or drivers being disqualified.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris noted campaigns targeting younger drivers had been a moderate success, with a particular focus on TikTok. Picture: Conor McKeown

He said: “All frontline members of An Garda Síochána, even those outside of full-time roads policing units, have a role to play in the enforcement of road traffic legislation and do so on a daily basis.” 

Ms Hilman added: “Garda members are actively engaged in this and indeed it's been well received. It's actually a popular measure because members can see the difference that there may have been in terms of intervention and education, but also then enforcement.

Gardaí have issued 45,951 fixed charge notices for speeding so far this year.

Mr Harris noted campaigns targeting younger drivers had been a moderate success, with a particular focus on TikTok.

A campaign launched on the platform in April saw a focus on distracted driving, with members of the road policing unit featuring on the short clips which saw them issuing fines for drivers using their mobile phones.

Mr Harris said to date, the series has received 2.8 million views. Of those who engaged with the series, almost 44% were aged between 18 and 34, while further 25% were aged between 35 to 44.