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23rd Dec 2019

Over 600 people arrested on suspicion of intoxicated driving in Ireland in the last month

Conor Heneghan

Gardaí have flagged that they will be out in force to catch those driving under the influence this Christmas.

649 people in Ireland have been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs in just over three weeks since the end of November, according to An Garda Síochána.

Since the Christmas Road Safety Campaign began on 29 November, there have been 649 drivers arrested on suspicion of intoxicated driving, including 348 since the Gardaí last issued figures from the campaign on 11 December.

An Garda Síochána have flagged that there will be an increased Garda presence on Irish roads to catch out offenders over the Christmas period and reiterated the message to the public to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Information on the penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is available here.

As of 23 December, there have been 143 fatalities on Irish roads, an increase of five on the same period last year.

11 people have lost their lives on Irish roads this month so far.