One motorist per hour arrested for drink or drug driving during bank holiday weekend

Tests led to the arrests of 196 motorists for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

An average of one motorist per hour was arrested for intoxicated driving during a Garda roads policing operation over the May bank holiday weekend.

Between 7am on Thursday, May 2 and 7am on Tuesday, May 7 gardaí established 1,090 Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) checkpoints nationwide and carried out 5,349 roadside drug and alcohol tests.

These tests led to the arrests of 196 motorists for driving under the influence of an intoxicant.

Over the same time period, more than 900 motorists were caught breaking the speed limit, including one driver who was clocked travelling at 127km/h in a 60km/h stretch of the R188 near Doocassan, Co Cavan.

Another was caught doing 136km/h in an 80km/h zone along the R731 at Rathnure, Co Wexford.

Gardaí also issued 220 fixed charge notices to motorists for using a mobile phone while driving. 100 people were fined for not wearing a seatbelt, while a further 170 fines were issued to 170 unaccompanied learner drivers.

Gardaí also seized a total 613 vehicles for a range of road traffic offences under Section 41 of the Roads Traffic Act.

"The vast majority of road users supported our operation over the long weekend to keep people safe, but it is of real concern that almost 200 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence,” Chief Superintendent at the National Roads Policing Bureau said, Jane Humphries.

"There is only so many ways that we can say this and we won’t be polite about it – never, never, ever get behind the wheel of a car while under the influence of drink or drugs. Any day, any time."

Chief Supt Humpries added: "The financial penalty, prospect of losing your licence or criminal offence and time in prison might not be enough of a deterrent to some but the potential of causing serious and/or fatal injuries to yourself as well as others should be enough to stop you.”