Almost 5,000 drivers caught speeding during nationwide bank holiday roads policing operation 

A total of 218 people were arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant, including alcohol and/or drugs. (iStock)

Almost 220 people were arrested nationwide for driving under the influence of an intoxicant over the bank holiday weekend, with close to 5,000 caught speeding and 500 caught using a mobile phone or without a seatbelt.

A garda roads policing operation, which took place between Thursday and Tuesday, saw thousands of motorists across the country held to account for not adhering to the rules of the road.

Throughout the operation, there were three fatal collisions recorded, bringing the total number of deaths on Irish roads so far this year to 154 – a 10% increase on the number of deaths recorded by October 2025.

Between Thursday and Tuesday, gardaí conducted both statutory mandatory intoxicant testing checkpoints and regular, high-visibility policing checkpoints.

A total of 218 people were arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant, including alcohol and/or drugs.

Just over 4,840 drivers were detected for speeding offences during the operation, with notable speeds detected on Tuesday including 122km/h in an 80km/h zone on the N51 in Navan, Co Meath.

Further, 391 drivers were detected holding a mobile phone and 109 were found not wearing a seatbelt.

As the operation concluded, gardaí and the Road Safety Authority continued to urge all road users to support their efforts to keep people safe on the roads.

"As the evenings get darker, An Garda Síochána is urging road users to be mindful of and take extra care around vulnerable road users, in particular pedestrians and cyclists," a garda spokesperson said.

"Cyclists and pedestrians should ensure they are clearly visible in darker conditions and always observe their surroundings.

"Road safety needs to be a priority for everyone - slow down and adhere to the speed limit.

"Never drive under the influence of drink or drugs, wear your seatbelt, and don’t get distracted by mobile devices when you are driving."