Drug drivers are set to be the target of this June bank holiday road safety safety campaign.
This was announced at the launch of a bank holiday safety drive by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), An Garda Síochána and the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS).
To date in 2019 a total of 62 people have died on the roads, which is four more than up to the same period in 2018.
Sixty-two is a key figure – as it is also reported that 62 people have been killed or seriously injured in June Bank Holiday collisions in last five years.
Gardaí have also reported a there has been a 15 percent increase in DUI arrests (alcohol or drugs) in the first four months of this year compared to last year.
There were 2,694 arrests for DUI from Jan-April 2019, versus 2,343 for Jan-April 2018.
Chief Superintendent Paul Cleary, Garda National Roads Policing Bureau, said: “An Garda Síochána is aware that many people will be travelling on the roads over the bank holiday weekend.
“Our priority is to ensure that people who use the road are not put at risk by the minority of drivers who drive while under the influence of an intoxicant.
“Members of the Garda Roads Policing Unit will be conducting roadside screening at Mandatory Intoxicant Testing checkpoints right around the country.
“The roadside test for drugs has enabled members of the roads policing units to tackle the serious issue of drug driving. We will also be targeting other killer behaviours such as speeding, mobile phone use and non-wearing of seatbelts.”
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