More than 40 arrested for driving under the influence over Easter weekend

More than 40 people were arrested in Northern Ireland for driving under the influence of drink or drug offences over the Easter weekend.

Police have also revealed more than 600 speeding offences were detected between Friday April 3 and Monday April 6.

Other offences detected during the Easter holiday road safety campaign included careless driving, dangerous driving, failure to wear a seatbelt and no insurance.

Provisional figures released by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on Wednesday show 43 arrests were made for drink or drug-driving offences.

During this same period, 667 speed detections were made across the region, with 621 made by road safety camera vans deployed at various locations.

There were also 42 detections for driving a vehicle with no insurance, 10 for using a mobile phone at the wheel, and six for not wearing a seat belt.

PSNI head of road policing Chief Inspector Celeste Simpson said too many people are risking their own safety and that of other road users.

“Anyone who chooses to get into a car and drive when intoxicated, or chooses not to wear a seatbelt, drives dangerously or carelessly, or is using their phone behind the wheel, does so because they don’t think the worst will ever happen to them,” she said.

“They’ve made a choice, and it’s these type of choices that risk the lives of drivers, their passengers and other road users.”

She made an appeal to drivers and road users: “You are responsible for your own safety and that of other road users. Safe driving is not down to luck. It requires discipline and your 100% focus on the road at all times.

“Tragically, 22 people have died on roads across Northern Ireland since the start of 2026. This is more than a statistic. These are catastrophic losses for everyone impacted.

“We can and must do more to help reduce the number of injuries and deaths on our roads, and our fatal five campaign must become your daily reminder of what you need to do to stay safe.

“Stay focused, control your speed, put down your phone, never drink or drug drive, don’t get distracted and always wear your seatbelt.”