A major crackdown on motorists who drive under the influence of drink or drugs is planned for Galway roads this Christmas. This comes as new figures confirm intoxicated driving has increased by 17% in the first ten months of this year.

The Galway Garda Roads Policing Division is planning 1,500 Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) checkpoints across the city and county over six weeks from the end of November to early January.

And Inspector Conor Madden, who is leading the roll-out, said he made ‘no apologies’ for targeting checkpoints at drivers who are still over the limit ‘the morning after the night before’.

He said Gardaí often get ‘hammered’ for carrying out morning intoxicant testing, but he insisted motorists can expect checkpoints at 8am as part of the road safety campaign to save lives.

“We will be carrying out MITs early morning leading up to Christmas. I will not apologise for carrying out tests at 8am,” Inspector Madden told the annual public meeting of the County Joint Policing Committee in the Claregalway Hotel on Monday.

He said around 1,500 MITs are scheduled for November 25 to January 3.

The checkpoints will be on roads in the city and county. Motorists stopped at these checkpoints are obliged to give breath samples if asked. Gardaí do not have to inform an opinion that the driver is under the influence to request a sample at an MIT.

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