Roads Policing Units have been out in force this week after the launch of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy.
The 10-year plan aims to cut Ireland’s road deaths and serious injuries in half by 2030.
This means reducing deaths on Irish roads annually from 144 to 72 and lowering serious injuries from 1,259 to 630 in that time.
In 2021 alone, more than 13,200 cars have been seized for a whole variety of law breaks, however, this week saw three frequently broken rules cracked down on.
Gardai attached to the Roads Policing Unit at Longford Garda Station stopped a vehicle recently.
After a quick investigation, it was found that the driver was a learner who had no 'L' plates displayed and no qualified driver in the vehicle.
The car was impounded and Fixed Charge Notices will be issued.
Meanwhile, officers conducting a checkpoint on Grove Road in Terenure seized a Volkswagen as the driver had no insurance, no tax and no NCT.
They were also found to be an unaccompanied learner, and so FCNs and court proceedings will follow.
This year, 27,882 breath tests have been carried out so far, and have regularly seen drivers busted for Drink and Drug Driving.
This week, the Naas Roads Policing Unit were operating a Checkpoint in Clane when they arrested a driver for failing their Roadside Breath Test.
They were almost 3 times over the legal limit for alcohol consumption, and so they were arrested and charged with court proceedings to follow.
Later, Cahir Gardai stopped Volkswagen Polo after seeing it driving poorly. It was found that the driver had no licence or insurance and they failed a breath test.
The driver was arrested for Drink Driving with further action being taken by officers.
On Wednesday night, Naas Roads Policing Unit became suspicious of this driver while on patrol.
They were stopped and the driver proceeded to fail a roadside breath test and they were subsequently arrested.
Proceedings will also follow for this vehicle owner.
A motorist was then stopped for careless driving by gardai in Swords during proactive patrols as part of Christmas road safety enforcement activity.
A roadside drugs test result was positive for cannabis. The driver was arrested, and court proceedings will follow.
More than 2,515 have been caught for dangerous driving across Ireland up to November this year, a trend that the new government strategy aims to crack down on.
In 2021 alone, 72,240 fixed charge notices have been handed out to drivers on Irish roads for speeding.
On Tuesday, Naas Roads Policing Unit were conducting speed checks on the M4 when they detected this van travelling at 172kph in a 120kph zone on a wet & greasy road surface.
The driver was arrested and proceedings are due to follow.
The same unit reported several motorists detected for speeding and issued with FCPNs given to each and penalty points.
One particular motorist was detected travelling at 136kph in an 80kph zone and was arrested for Dangerous Driving.
A court appearance is to follow.
