17 people killed on Irish roads over Christmas and over 900 drivers found under the influence

Gardaí have revealed some shocking figures from their Christmas Road Safety Campaign which spanned from November 29 to January 6.

Over this period, gardaí conducted a dedicated road traffic enforcement operation, carrying out over 9,973 checkpoints which included both statutory Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) and regular high-visibility policing checkpoints.

Throughout this time, 17 fatalities were recorded on Irish roads and 85 serious collisions which resulted in a number of people receiving serious and life-threatening injuries.

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Gardaí said that 939 people were arrested during the period for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Additionally, 13,573 drivers were detected for speeding offences by gardaí and Mobile Safety Camera Vans.

Around 2,636 vehicles were also seized by gardaí for a range of different offences under the Road Traffic Act, 1961. 

Gardaí also said that 1,311 Fixed Charge Notices were issued to drivers who were caught using their mobile phones while driving.

According to An Garda Síochána, the New Year period is extremely busy on Irish roads. They added: "It is also one of the periods during which road users are at the highest risk of being involved in a fatal or serious road traffic collision."

With 174 people killed in road traffic collisions in Ireland over 2024, and two so far in 2025, An Garda Síochána have urged people to slow down and take extra care on the roads.