Gardai carried out over 1,500 checkpoints in just five days following several road deaths over the bank holiday weekend.
Eight people were killed in six fatal road traffic collisions over the weekend, including three drivers, three motorcyclists, a passenger and a pedestrian.
Despite significant progress in recent years reducing road deaths, these fatalities and the further Road Death on Thursday bring the total number of people killed on Irish roads in 2022 to 79, an increase of 32 compared to date in 2021 and an increase of 15 road fatalities compared to 2019.
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Over the June Bank Holiday period, An Garda Síochána carried out 1,585 checkpoints, including 817 Mandatory Intoxicant Testing checkpoints.
From this, 69 drivers were arrested for alleged drug driving, and 113 drivers were arrested for alleged drink driving.
This compares to 32 arrests for drug driving and 115 arrests for drink driving in 2019.
Fixed Charge Offences for other road offences during the period included
• Mobile Phones – 191
• Learner unaccompanied drivers – 63
• Seatbelts – 77
In addition, 311 Vehicles were detained under section 41 Road Traffic Act for offences such as no driving licence, no insurance and no NCT.
Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman, Roads Policing and Community Engagement, said: "79 people have died on our roads so far this year. This is not just a number, these are people, husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, friends, colleagues. There is one simple thing that every driver can do to help stop this carnage, one simple message, 'Slow Down.'
"An Garda Síochána remains committed to ensuring compliance with road traffic legislation to improve safety on our roads. But every road user can play their part too."
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