Gardaí reveal highest risk times for fatal or serious collisions during Christmas/New Year

Gardaí have revealed the highest risk times for fatal or serious road traffic collisions during the Christmas and New Year period. 

It comes 157 people are confirmed to have lost their lives on Ireland's roads this year - 25 more than on the same date in 2021 - with some 1,185 collisions causing serious injury as well. 

Data compiled over the past twelve years has indicated that over half (55%) of incidents occur between 12 noon and 9pm over Christmas/New Year, with 21% of incidents occurring during 3pm to 6pm. 

A new road safety campaign launched earlier this month has focused on road dangers including intoxicated driving, speeding, use of a mobile phone while driving and non-wearing of seat belts. 

Over 1,300 checkpoints have been conducted by Gardaí nationwide in the past seven days (December 22 to December 28), with 173 people arrested for Driving Under the Influence (24 of whom were arrested on suspicion of Drug Driving). 

Twenty nine seatbelt offences were identified during that time, as well as 82 offences for use of a mobile phone while driving and 3,060 speeding offences. 

Speaking today, Inspector Ross O’Doherty of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau said, "It is stark to see these statistics knowing the potential that each of these offences had to cause accident or injury but this is the reality of the behaviour of some drivers. It should go without saying that behind these stats are real lives, real people and real threat to their lives and the lives of other road users.

"As plenty of families and friends get set to celebrate the New Year tonight and over the weekend, we are reminding those that may be intending to have a drink to make alternative arrangements to get home and to avoid driving the following morning also. The importance of this is shown in the fact that between Thursday, 1st of December and today, 76 People have been arrested on suspicion of intoxicated driving between the hours of 6am and 2pm in the afternoon.

"Not everyone might realise the real dangers of driving the morning after but intoxicated driving at any hour of the day or night carries a high risk – a risk to the health and safety of you and other road users but also of losing your licence and being put off the road which carries penalty. 

"Gardaí are out conducting checkpoints and other operational activity nationwide to ensure that everyone gets to their destination safely this New Year’s weekend.

"We are not asking motorists, we are urging them to help us reduce the number of serious and fatal road traffic collisions by never taking a risk. It is never, ever worth it and hindsight often comes far too late." 

Over 5,500 checkpoints were conducted during December, with 11,647 speeding offences recorded and 600 arrests for driving under the influence.

Four thousand one hundred and twenty four collisions were reported to Gardaí during this time, with over 180 seatbelt offences identified and 724 offences of ruse of a mobile phone while driving.