Gardaí have urged motorists travelling over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend to slow down and warned drink and drug drivers that they will be caught.
Chief Superintendent Jane Humphries said there will be increased patrols and said cops will also stage a number of checkpoints around the country to keep the roads safe.
Data released from Gardai also showed that the risk of fatalities or serious road traffic collisions was highest between 3 pm and 6 pm over this weekend.
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They also revealed that the highest risk for intoxicated drivers was between 9 pm and 3 am while 25% of those arrests will usually take place on Sunday.
To date, 45 people have lost their lives on roads in Ireland compared with 43 in 2022 over the same period.
Chief Supt Humphries of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau also said drug driving included medications people are prescribed to take which affect their ability behind the wheel.
Speaking yesterday in Dundrum, the top cop said: “Coming into the Easter Holidays we all know that the roads become very very busy, and along with that is the risk of having a collision.
“What I’d like to ask you today is to do four very simple things, firstly is to slow down - take your time, get to your destination safely.
“Also do not drive intoxicated. We know that during the Easter period that out of every 25 people arrested for intoxication, four are during the period of the morning after.
“So not only plan your journey of how to get home but also have consideration of how you’re going to get out and about the following day.”
She added: “In addition to that, please take care and don’t be distracted while driving.
“Put the phone away, that phone call, that text will wait, and also wear your seatbelt.
“We want everybody to enjoy the Easter Holidays, we want everybody to get home safely.”
When asked why there was a high number of fatalities between 3 pm and 6 pm, the top cop explained: “Quite simply that’s when there is a higher volume of traffic on the road.
“People might be a little bit rushed and they may be rushing to get somewhere.
“We know that a lot of collisions on the road are preventable and one of the major preventable ways is speed - so we’re asking people to just take your time … you may get there a little later but you will get there safely.”
Chief Supt Humphries said the number of drink and drug detections has gone up since Covid-19 restrictions were lifted.
She added: “My message is do not take that chance, you will be caught.”
The top cop said if people were unsure the next morning about whether or not they can drive they shouldn’t get behind the wheel.
She continued: “If they’re not sure, simply don’t drive. It is not worth the risk, it is not worth taking that chance, you could lose your licence and you could lose your livelihood, and worse still you could actually lose your life.”
When asked if drug driving had overtaken drink driving, Chief Supt Humphries added: “It’s certainly on the increase.
"Drink and drug driving are both unacceptable and both are very serious.”
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