Bank Holiday weekend road safety
Gardaí will clamp down on drink and drug-driving this August Bank Holiday weekend.
New figures show the number of arrests for drug-driving in the first half of the year has more than doubled that of the same period in 2019.
This year to date there has been over a 100% increase in drug driving arrests. This bank holiday weekend Gardaí will be out in force on our roads with additional drug detection equipment. Our message is simple never ever drive while intoxicated. #ArriveAlive pic.twitter.com/yMdGxn9xzT
— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) July 30, 2020
In the first six months of 2020, 1,215 arrests were made relating to drug-driving.
Compare that to the same period last year, where it was only 591 - representing a 106% increase.
All this is despite traffic volumes being up to 70% down as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown.
83 people have so far died on Irish roads in the first half of 2020, which is 5 more than the same period last year.
An addition 41 preliminary drug testing devices have been made available to Gardaí ahead of an increased presence this weekend.
They will be conducting checkpoints throughout the country.
