Gardaí have detected 169 people for drug and drink driving over the bank holiday weekend.

Of these, 63 detections came in the 24 period between yesterday and 7am this morning.

Gardaí in Longford also arrested a driver and seized a vehicle after they were caught travelling at 136hm/h in a 50km zone.

'Devastating year'

Junior Minister in the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers said it has been a “devastating year” on Irish roads thus far.

“We’ve seen over the last number of years, there have been seven fatalities on the May bank holiday weekend and 70 seriously injured,” he said.

“We’re really appealing to people to slow down; to never drink and drive or do a drug and drive, and not to use your mobile phone when driving a vehicle.

“We’re also asking people to wear seatbelts, last year we saw worrying figures around fatalities of people not wearing a seatbelt.”

A Garda roads policing unit in action. Image: An Garda Síochána

RSA CEO Sam Waide said having a conversation with friends and family about road safety is an effective way to encourage those close to you to drive safely.

“We’ve engaged with young person groups and they’ve said the most influential conversation that they’ll have is with their parents and friends on their behaviour.

“We’re asking people to have those conversations before it's too late, it does make a difference.”

Some 70 people have been killed on roads in the year to date.

Main image: A Garda with a speed gun. Image: Stephen Barnes/Transport / Alamy Stock Photo