Gardaí: Enhanced roads enforcement for St. Patrick's weekend
Gardaí will be carrying out an enhanced roads policing enforcement campaign over the St. Patrick's Bank Holiday weekend.
The campaign targeting drink and drug driving, as well as other dangerous behaviours, began this morning (Thurday, March 12) and will continue until 7:00a.m on Wednesday (March 18).
This year to date, 32 people have lost their lives in fatal road traffic collisions in Ireland.
Gardaí
As people across Ireland prepare to celebrate our national holiday, motorists are being urged to plan ahead and never drive under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
"St Patrick’s Weekend is a time of celebration, but it must not be a time of tragedy," Assistant Commissioner Catharina Gunne, roads policing, said.
"Drink and drug driving remain among the leading causes of death and serious injury on Irish roads.
"Our message is simple: if you are under the influence of an intoxicant do not drive. The risk is never worth it," she said.
Provisional analysis by An Garda Síochána of drivers arrested for ‘driving under the influence’ of alcohol or drugs in 2025 show that 86% were male, 14% female.
29% of the drivers arrested were aged 21-30 years; 29% were 31-40 years old; 7% were under-21; 20% were 41–50; 10% were 51–60 years-of-age; and 5% were over 61 years-of-age.
Gardaí said that 53% of arrests occurred between Friday and Sunday.
RSA
The latest data from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) shows that 12% of drivers admitted they had driven after consuming alcohol in the previous 12 months.
A quarter of motorists felt it was acceptable to drive a short distance in their local area after drinking alcohol.
While 23% said there were times they may have been over the legal limit when driving the morning after a night out.
International research indicates that drivers with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) between 50-80mg alcohol per 100ml blood are between 5-10 times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision.
Analysis of coronial data by the RSA shows that more than one third (35%) of driver fatalities (2016-2020) where a toxicology result was available tested positive for alcohol.
"St. Patrick’s Day is a time for celebration, but alcohol and driving must never mix.
"Every year we see the devastating consequences when someone gets behind the wheel after drinking," Michael Rowland, director of research, standards and assurance at the RSA, said.
"We are urging everyone to plan ahead - leave the car at home if you are drinking, organise a lift, and make sure you and your friends get home safely.
"We also want to remind pedestrians and cyclists that travelling while under the influence of alcohol increases their risk on the road," he added.
Conference
The 2026 National Safer Roads Road Safety Conference and Exhibition is currently taking place in Co. Kerry.
Speaking at the event, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, Jerry Buttimer TD said: "St. Patrick’s Day is our national day of celebration.
"It is a time for us to come together to celebrate the best of Ireland and the best of our local communities.
"However, we must all take responsibility and behave properly on our roads. It is never acceptable to drink or take drugs, and drive".
"We cannot put others’ lives, or our own lives at risk when driving.
"Where we see such behaviour, we must challenge it and call it out. I urge people to enjoy yourselves but also remember to make the right decisions," the minister added.
