Over 1,700 motorists detected speeding over weekend

Over 1,700 motorists have been detected speeding during a bank holiday weekend garda road traffic operation.

The operation began at 7am on Thursday and will continue until 7am on Tuesday, with high-visibility checkpoints around the country and gardaí carrying out tests for intoxicated driving.

Gardaí said that among the latest detections, a motorist was found travelling at 80km/h in a 50km/h zone on the R183, Dernaglug, Doohamlet, Co Monaghan, while another was travelling at 97km/h in a 60km/h zone on the N52, Barfordstown, Kells, Co Meath.

On Friday, a motorist was detected driving at 147km/h in an 80km/h zone on the R245, Milford, Co, Donegal; while another was found doing 173 km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N87, Belturbet, Co Cavan.

Another was caught driving at 111km/h in a 60km/h zone on the R267, Bundoran, Co Donegal.

So far, 77 people have been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

During the same period, nearly 200 drivers were detected holding a mobile phone or not wearing a seatbelt.

An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) are appealing to road users to support their efforts to keep people safe during the bank holiday weekend.

Gardaí are urging road users to take extra caution around vulnerable road users, in particular pedestrians and cyclists.