With 5km travel restrictions currently in place, Gardai continue to monitor and police their Annual Christmas and New Year Road Safety campaign.
The initiative, which commenced on Friday, December 4, will run until Tuesday, January 5 and it's primarily focused on Mandatory Intoxicant Testing – detecting those who drive having consumed alcohol or drugs.
Gardaí will have a visible enforcement presence around the country during this time.
At the time of its launch, the Gardaí said: "Despite traffic volumes being reduced by up to 70% at times this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a 133% increase in the number of people detected driving under the influence of drugs on our roads (2537 have been detected to date in 2020 which compares to 1192 detections for the same period in 2019)."
Over the past few days, An Garda Síochána have arrested even more drivers that were found to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
As stated on their official social media account, Meath Roads Policing "stopped a car after observing it fail to indicate. The driver then proceeded to test positive for cocaine. The driver was arrested and proceedings are to follow."
Elsewhere, Drogheda Roads Policing were conducting a checkpoint at Bothar Brugha, Co. Louth when a truck was stopped. The driver was tested and found to be 10 times over the legal alcohol limit. They were arrested with proceedings to follow.
In Munster, over the weekend, Waterford Gardaí observed a car that turned away from a checkpoint.
An Garda Síochána state: "The car was stopped and a strong smell of suspected cannabis was detected coming from the cabin. The driver failed a roadside drugs test for cannabis. Never ever drive on drugs."
Elsewhere, 200 people were tested with three arrests made at various checkpoints on New Year's Day.
As stated on their official Facebook page, member of the "Roads Policing Units from across Dublin carried out a Mandatory Intoxicant Testing checkpoint on the N81 in Tallaght earlier today as a part of ongoing New Year Road Safety operations.
"During the checkpoint up to 200 motorists were tested. Three were arrested for failed roadside tests, 2 for drugs and one for alcohol."
On a similar note, Gardai in Kildare noted that it was: "Not a 'positive' start to the new year for this motorist detected by Naas RPU driving at 148 km/h in a 100km/h zone & arrested after returning a positive roadside drug test for Cocaine & Cannabis. Court proceedings to follow. Intoxicated driving destroys lives!"
