Gardai have put in place a safety operation as the bank holiday weekend begins with extra patrols and checkpoints on what can be a dangerous time on the country’s roads. While the traffic enforcement operation will mean a greater garda presence on the roads and motorways the force and the Road Safety Authority are urging all road users to take extra care to stay safe. As bank holiday weekends are among the busiest times on Irish roads and carry a higher risk of collisions, gardai will focus on enforcing speed limits, detecting impaired driving, and ensuring compliance with mobile phone and seat belt laws. Gardai and the RSA are advising all pedestrians and cyclists to wear high-visibility clothing and ensure they are clearly visible in darker conditions. They point to statistics showing a rise in pedestrian injuries on Irish roads between October and December each year. Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing, Catharina Gunne, said that while the will be a greater garda presence over the weekend it is also imperative that road users take extra care. She said: “ An Garda Síochána is appealing to all road users to take extra care this long Halloween weekend. Bank Holidays are particularly busy times on our roads. Road users need to be particularly mindful at this time of year because road conditions are wetter and this weekend, clocks go back, so the evenings are darker and longer. “Therefore, there is a greater risk for our vulnerable road users; pedestrians and cyclists. Please Be Safe, Be Seen. For motorists, we appeal to you to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to slow down and to always choose a speed that is appropriate for the driving conditions, to wear your seatbelt and remove any distractions while driving such as mobile phones while driving. “We must continue to raise awareness among all road users about road safety, work together with road users and our partners, to prevent a further rise in road fatalities and serious injury road traffic collisions.” Minister of State with responsibility for Road Safety, Seán Canney also urged those travelling on the country’s roads over the weekend to take care. He added: "As the clocks go back and winter approaches, I urge all road users to make safety the focus of their journeys. No matter how we travel, we need to protect ourselves and each other. Light up your vehicle; wear high visibility clothing; adjust your speed for the road and weather conditions; and never drive distracted or intoxicated. Emergency services are ready to help – but let’s do our best to avoid needing them.” The October bank holiday garda operation began yesterday and will run until 7am next Tuesday. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here .
Garda checkpoints: Drivers warned as Halloween Bank Holiday safety blitz begins
Gardai have put in place a safety operation as the bank holiday weekend begins with extra patrols and checkpoints on what can be a dangerous time on the country’s roads. While the traffic enforcement operation will mean a greater garda presence on the roads and motorways the force and the Road Safety Authority are urging all road users to take extra care to stay safe. As bank holiday weekends are among the busiest times on Irish roads and carry a higher risk of collisions, gardai will focus on enforcing speed limits, detecting impaired driving, and ensuring compliance with mobile phone and seat belt laws. Gardai and the RSA are advising all pedestrians and cyclists to wear high-visibility clothing and ensure they are clearly visible in darker conditions. They point to statistics showing a rise in pedestrian injuries on Irish roads between October and December each year. Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing, Catharina Gunne, said that while the will be a greater garda presence over the weekend it is also imperative that road users take extra care. She said: “ An Garda Síochána is appealing to all road users to take extra care this long Halloween weekend. Bank Holidays are particularly busy times on our roads. Road users need to be particularly mindful at this time of year because road conditions are wetter and this weekend, clocks go back, so the evenings are darker and longer. “Therefore, there is a greater risk for our vulnerable road users; pedestrians and cyclists. Please Be Safe, Be Seen. For motorists, we appeal to you to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to slow down and to always choose a speed that is appropriate for the driving conditions, to wear your seatbelt and remove any distractions while driving such as mobile phones while driving. “We must continue to raise awareness among all road users about road safety, work together with road users and our partners, to prevent a further rise in road fatalities and serious injury road traffic collisions.” Minister of State with responsibility for Road Safety, Seán Canney also urged those travelling on the country’s roads over the weekend to take care. He added: "As the clocks go back and winter approaches, I urge all road users to make safety the focus of their journeys. No matter how we travel, we need to protect ourselves and each other. Light up your vehicle; wear high visibility clothing; adjust your speed for the road and weather conditions; and never drive distracted or intoxicated. Emergency services are ready to help – but let’s do our best to avoid needing them.” The October bank holiday garda operation began yesterday and will run until 7am next Tuesday. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here .
