Hundreds of vehicles seized and arrests made over St Patrick's weekend

Throughout the St. Patrick’s bank holiday weekend, a major garda clamp-down was in place between 7am on Thursday, March 14 to 7am Tuesday, March 19.

There were three fatalities on Irish roads during this period and five serious collisions, that resulted in five people receiving serious and life-threatening injuries.

Over the bank holiday weekend, An Garda Síochána carried out more than 760 checkpoints. Over 9,970 roadside drug and alcohol tests were conducted which led to 175 arrests for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or both.

In addition, more than 75 vehicles were seized from learner permit holders driving unaccompanied and over 385 vehicles were seized for having no tax or insurance.

Almost 1,800 drivers were detected for speeding offences.

Fixed Charge Offences for other road offences during this period included:

• Using Mobile Phones – more than 170
• Unaccompanied learner drivers – 92
• No seatbelts – 59

Chief Superintendent Jane Humphries of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau said: "Gardaí nationwide continue to work hard to enforce road traffic laws and highlight the importance of road safety among communities.

"Every single one of us have a responsibility to practice good driver behaviour and prevent both road fatalities and serious injury road traffic collisions. We have got to work together.”