Mayo driver among top speeding offenders over Easter Bank Holiday Weekend
Over 4,000 drivers were detected for speeding as part of An Garda Síochána’s Easter Bank Holiday Weekend Road Safety Campaign.
In addition, more than 175 drivers were caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs as part of the operation, which ran between 7am on Thursday, April 2, and 7am on Tuesday, April 7.
In County Mayo, a vehicle was recorded travelling at 138km/h in an 80km/h zone along the N60 in Manualla.
The Mayo Roads Policing Unit also carried out speed checks on the N17 on the evening of Sunday, April 5, resulting in the arrest of a driver under the influence of cocaine.
The driver had attempted to overtake another vehicle using the hard shoulder, despite the other car travelling within the speed limit.
Gardaí stopped the vehicle, as the manoeuvre is both illegal and dangerous. A roadside oral fluid drug test confirmed the presence of cocaine.
The vehicle was seized, and the driver provided a blood sample for further analysis by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety.
Convictions for drug driving carry a maximum fine of €5,000, up to six months in prison, and up to one year’s disqualification from driving.
Across Ireland, the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend operation also saw over 290 drivers issued with Fixed Charge Notices for using their mobile phones while driving, and a further 95 drivers issued one for failing to wear a seatbelt.
A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said: “An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to all road users to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to slow down and to always choose a speed that is appropriate to the driving conditions, to wear your seatbelt and keep your eyes always on the road.”
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.