Part of a Bank Holiday road policing blitz that saw 165 arrested

17:29, 05 May 2026Updated 17:37, 05 May 2026

Garda (Stock image)

Gardaí conducted a sweeping operation over the May Bank Holiday weekend – snaring drivers for speeding or driving under the influence.

The op ran from Thursday, April 30 to Tuesday May 5 – during which time there were two tragic fatalities on Irish roads and five serious injury collisions, while more than 3,950 drivers were detected for speeding. In Tipp, one motorist was found to be travelling at 158km/h in an 80km/hr zone – while a driver in Kerry got up to 139 km/h in a 100km/hr zone.

And here in Cork, Gardaí stopped a driver (30s) who tested positive for cocaine at a checkpoint – with a a search of the vehicle turning up 5kg of suspected cannabis. The driver was arrested and is now before the courts. The maximum penalty for drink or drug driving is a €5,000 fine and/or imprisonment for up to 6 months – and all drink driving offences result in disqualification from driving for at least three months.

That motorist was just one of 165 people arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant during the roads policing blitz. Following the end of the extended operation, An Garda Síochána has appealed 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 for the driving conditions, to wear your seatbelt and keep your eyes always on the road.

“Motorists are reminded to keep distractions out of the vehicle and give your full attention to the road.”

Elsewhere, notable speeds detected on Monday, May 4 include:

  • 83km/h in a 50km/h zone on Davitt Road, Dublin 12
  • 121km/h in a 60km/h zone on R417 Maganey Lower, Co. Kildare
  • 137km/h in a 80km/h zone on R39, Knockagowny, Co. Longford
  • 138km/h in a 100km/h zone on R238, Buncrana, Co. Donegal

In this period, in excess of 300 drivers were detected for holding a mobile phone or not wearing a seatbelt. And on day one of the operation, 156 people were detected speeding, including:

  • 80 km/h in a 50km/hr zone on the R188 Drumbear, Co. Monaghan
  • 111 km/h in a 60km/hr zone on the R267, Bundoran, Co. Donegal
  • 107 km/h in an 80km/hr zone on the R684, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford
  • 173 km/h in a 100km/hr zone on the N87, Belturbet, Co. Cavan