Gardai urge Kildare drivers to slow down this Christmas period

An Garda Síochána is conducting a dedicated road traffic enforcement operation throughout the Christmas period which began on Friday, 29th November 2024 and will continue until Monday, 6th January 2025.

During the third week of the operation, between Friday December 13 2024 and Thursday December 19 2024, there was 1 fatality on our roads and 15 serious collisions that resulted in a number of people receiving serious and life-threatening injuries.

Over the past week, An Garda Síochána carried out over 2,046 checkpoints, both statutory Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) and regular, high-visibility policing checkpoints

177 people were arrested during this period for driving under the influence of an intoxicant (alcohol and drugs).

Over 2,301 drivers were detected for speeding offences by An Garda Síochána and Mobile Safety Camera Vans by our Road Safety Partners, GoSafe.

One notable speed included 203 kph in a 120kph zone on the M1 near Lusk in Dublin.

A further 18 speeding detections have been made between 7am and 9am this morning, as part of National Slow Down Day. One of these detections included 131kph in a 100 kph zone on the N15 near Keeldrum in Donegal.
Approximately 481 vehicles were seized by Gardaí for a range of offences under the Road Traffic Act, 1961.

In addition, approximately 268 Fixed Charge Notices were issued for the offence of using a mobile phone while driving.

The Christmas period is one of the busiest on Irish roads. It is also one of the periods during which road users are at the highest risk of being involved in a fatal or serious road traffic collision.

To date, 168 people have lost their lives in road traffic collisions on Irish roads.

An Garda Síochána is appealing to all those that will be taking to the roads over the Christmas period to slow down, take extra care and to give your driving your full attention.