Gardaí need more resources to tackle the drug and drink driving “mayhem” on Irish roads, Sinn Féin has said.

Three people were killed on roads over the Easter bank holiday weekend.

There were also 140 people arrested for driving under the influence and 620 speeding detections made between Saturday and Sunday.

On Newstalk Breakfast today, Sinn Féin transport spokesperson Martin Kenny said more resources needed to be allocated for road policing in Ireland.

He also said people need to be more responsible when getting behind the wheel.

“So many people are taking chances and driving erratically and irresponsibly,” he said.

“They are driving under the influence of drugs and drink which is causing mayhem but there is a responsibility on people to recognise you can’t get behind the wheel of a car drunk.

“It’s fatal for so many people and so many families are suffering from it.”

Baffled

Deputy Kenny said he is baffled that people continue to drive under the influence in this day and age.

“Honest to God I don’t know, I just can’t understand how it hasn’t sunk home yet,” he said.

“There isn’t a parish in the country that hasn’t someone who lost their lives on the roads - and many of those through alcohol.

“It baffles me people continue to do it.

“It’s very disappointing that so many people continue using drugs and alcohol and getting behind the wheel to drive.”

Enforcement

Deputy Kenny said people feel like they won’t get caught if they break road laws in Ireland.

“That appears to be the situation that people don’t get caught and then think they will never get caught,” he said.

“We all come across it; we’re all driving on the roads and the next thing you know someone comes up behind you really fast, brakes hard, pulls out by three cars coming to a corner, takes risks – those are the people that cause road traffic collisions.

“People continue to drive in an erratic and irresponsible way and we need to have firm measures in place to stop that happening.”

Resources

Deputy Kenny said more Garda resources are needed too.

“One of the issues is that the level of enforcement of road traffic regulations is not where it needs to be to make people safe on the roads,” he said.

“If the Gardai are out there enforcing the laws and people are getting penalty points for speeding, getting caught drink driving, it will have an effect and mean people won’t take the risk.

“This is primarily what we need to do and there needs to be more publicity around the terrible impact road deaths have on families and communities.”

There have been 58 fatalities on Irish roads so far this year.

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Main image: Garda checkpoint in Carrigaline, Cork, 10-4-2020. Credit: David Creedon / Alamy Live News