A garda road safety operation began at 7am this morning and will remain in effect until 7am next Tuesday, reports RTE.
With traffic expected to be heavy in the coming days, gardaà stated that every officer on duty over the weekend will be involved in enforcing road traffic laws.
Gardaà have reported that, so far this year, one in every three people who have died or been seriously hurt on Irish roads were under 30 years of age, reports RTE.
Between January and March, the number of drivers and pedestrians who lost their lives on the roads was higher than the average recorded for the same months over the previous five years.
According to gardaÃ, half of those who died in road collisions this year were drivers, and two-thirds of the fatal crashes involved only one vehicle.
In the first quarter of each year since 2019, the largest group of passengers and pedestrians who died or were seriously injured were 20 years old or younger, reports RTE.
They have also noted a rise in road collisions on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays — with Friday incidents this year being roughly double the five-year average.
People who plan to drink alcohol while socialising this weekend are being urged by gardaà to leave their vehicles at home, reports RTE.
They suggest appointing a designated driver, booking a taxi in advance, using public transport, or arranging for a lift from someone trusted.
Gardaà also warn that walking or cycling after consuming alcohol or drugs can endanger both the individual and others on the road.
Chief Superintendent Jane Humphries of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau said the latest analysis of road crashes shows “that there is still some way to go in younger drivers paying heed to our pleas to follow the road traffic laws”, reports RTE.
She said: “There is a sense among some that gardaà are out conducting roads policing duties to catch people, make their lives difficult by adding penalty points to their licences and cost them money in fines. I can tell you that is absolutely not the case – we are working to help make sure everyone is safe on their journey. No garda has ever or will ever take satisfaction in responding to a horrific road traffic collision that has caused serious injuries or death,” reports RTE.
“Being tasked to call to a home to deliver the worst possible news to a devastated family that their loved one has been killed is something that no garda ever wishes to do. Our work is aimed at avoiding all of those awful circumstances. This long Easter weekend there will be more road users out on the roads the usual whether out walking, cycling or driving to go see loved ones. We urge you to please slow down, do not drive while under the influence and please keep your focus on the road,” reports RTE.
Sarah O’Connor, Director of Partnerships and External Affairs at the Road Safety Authority said: “We are urging motorists to slow down and look out for all road users over the Easter bank holiday weekend. There will be more traffic than usual on the roads, including an increased number of cyclists and pedestrians out enjoying the longer evenings. There have been 48 lives been lost on our roads to date in 2025, and we do not want to add to that tragic figure,” reports RTE.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
