Over 150 motorists arrested for drink and drug driving during bank holiday weekend

Picture: Dan Linehan.

More than 150 people were arrested for driving under the influence during the October Bank Holiday weekend.

An Garda Síochána carried out 820 Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) checkpoints over the weekend, resulting in 153 arrests for suspected driving under the influence of an intoxicant.

During the same period, one person died in a crash, while seven collisions left eight people with serious injuries.

Additionally, more than 3,000 drivers were detected exceeding the speed limit.

In Limerick, a driver was caught travelling at 174km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N24 at Caherconlish.

Meanwhile, in Broadford, Co Kildare, another driver was detected travelling at 134km/h in an 80km/h zone on the R148.

According to a Garda spokesperson, 300 unaccompanied learner drivers were stopped, while over 140 people were found not wearing seatbelts.

Some 87 vehicles were seized from unaccompanied learner permit holders, and more than 345 vehicles were seized for having no tax or insurance.

"An Garda Síochána continue to appeal to all road users to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to slow down and to always choose a speed that is appropriate to the driving conditions, to wear your seatbelt and keep your eyes always on the road," said the spokesperson.