26,500 drivers detected for speeding and 3,000 vehicles seized in December road safety campaign

Nearly 26,500 drivers were detected for speeding offences and nearly 3,000 vehicles were seized during the An Garda Síochána road traffic enforcement operation between December 1 and January 5.

In a statement this morning, An Garda Síochána confirmed the details and “appealed to every road user to put their safety first this year”.

Between Monday December 1, 2025 and Monday January 5, 2026, there were 26 fatalities on Irish roads and more than 70 serious collisions that resulted in a number of people receiving serious and life-threatening injuries.

During the course of the operation, An Garda Síochána carried out nearly 10,000 checkpoints, both statutory Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) and regular, high-visibility policing checkpoints.

765 people were arrested during this period for driving under the influence of an intoxicant (56% primarily alcohol and 44% primarily drugs).

Nearly 26,500 drivers were detected for speeding offences by An Garda Síochána, Mobile Safety Camera Vans and Static Safety Cameras by our Road Safety Partners, GoSafe.

Gardaí seized nearly 3,000 vehicles for a range of offences under the Road Traffic Act, 1961, 59% primarily for no insurance.

In addition, nearly 1,700 Fixed Charge Notices were issued for the offence of using a mobile phone while driving and over 450 Fixed Charge Notices to vehicle users for non-wearing of seatbelts.

Notable speeds during the road traffic enforcement operation included:

• 119kmh in a 50kmh zone on the Drummartin Link Road, Dublin 14

• 107kmh in a 50kmh zone on the N20 in Cork city

• 140 kmh in a 60kmh zone on the N15 in Stranorlar, Co. Donegal

• 122kmh in a 60kmh zone in Oola, Co. Limerick

• 185kmh in an 80kmh zone on the N80, Clonegal, Co. Carlow

• 167 kmh in an 80kmh zone on the R430, Crettyyard, Co. Laois

• 237kmh in a 100kmh zone on the N7, Johnstown, Co. Kildare

• 192kmh in a 100kmh zone on the N25, Kilmeaden, Co. Waterford

• 201kmh in a 120kmh zone on the M18, Kinvara, Co. Galway

• 174kmh in a 120kmh zone on the M1, Drogheda, Co. Louth

190 people lost their lives in road traffic collisions on Irish roads in 2025. Two people have already lost their lives on Irish roads in 2026.

765 drivers made a choice to drive after consuming alcohol and/ or drugs. Nearly 26,500 drivers made a choice to drive substantially in excess of the legally posted speed limit.

In doing so, these drivers put themselves, their passengers and all other road users at serious risk of death or injury. These drivers did not think of any consequences.

The 190 people who died on Irish roads left behind grieving families, friends, colleagues and traumatised communities.

The drivers who chose to drive while under the influence of an intoxicant and in excess of the speed limit also live in our communities and have families, friends, work colleagues who can influence them.

As a community working together we have shown before that we can reduce road deaths on Irish roads.

As a community we need to change attitudes to road traffic offences such as driving while intoxicated and speeding and make them unacceptable in our society.

An Garda Síochána is appealing to all drivers on our roads during 2026 to do the right thing:

• Never drive under the influence of an intoxicant

• Drive within the posted speed limit and at an appropriate speed to the conditions

• Never drive while distracted

• Always wear a seatbelt

An Garda Síochána is appealing to every road user to put their safety first this year.

As a community working together in 2026 we can again reduce the level of road deaths on Irish roads.