Senior Cork garda says drug driving has become a 'major problem' 

A senior Cork garda has said ‘drug driving’ has become a “major problem” on our roads.

Cork City Roads Policing Inspector Gillian Synott was speaking to The Echo after it emerged 13 motorists were arrested in Cork last week for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“Drug driving seems to be our problem at the minute,” said Inspector Synott. 

“Drugs stay in your system, so if you’re considering doing anything, please don’t drive. Have a designated driver, leave the car at home, leave the keys behind, because if the car is there, people are inclined to go ‘I’ll take that risk’.

“We are out in force. We can’t be everywhere, we’ll be where we can be, but we will do our best. So, if you’re going to take that risk, you will be caught.”

The holiday weekend roads policing operation commenced at 7am on Thursday, with 946 drivers detected speeding nationally, 160 of them detected between Sunday and Monday.

Breath tests

In Cork, 280 breath tests were carried out over the weekend as part of this operation, with seven drivers detected travelling under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

This brought the number of drivers detected operating their vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant last week around the county to 13.

Nationally, there were 127 arrests for persons suspected of driving under the influence of an intoxicant over the bank holiday weekend, 46 of which were detected between 7am on Sunday and 7am on Monday.

Among those caught speeding, one driver in Cork was detected driving at a speed of 134k/ph in a 100k/ph zone on the South Ring Road.

Yesterday at a routine checkpoint set up on Sharman Crawford St in Cork city centre, several motorists were found to be travelling either unaccompanied as a learner driver or without valid NCT or insurance.

Following those detections, their vehicles were detained by An Garda Síochána and later towed from the scene of the checkpoint.

Fatalities

Speaking to The Echo, Insp Synott said while the number of road fatalities this year has hit a record 115 toll, an increase of 12 deaths compared to same period last year, An Garda Síochána are still determined to hit their goal of zero road deaths by 2050.

“There is compliance, but road deaths are up, so obviously people are still taking risks.

“The mobile phones are the biggest issue. There really is no excuse for using them, and excess speed coupled with that is a recipe for disaster. It’s devastating,” she said.

“We’re imploring people to slow down, not to use their phones, and to never drink and drive, or use any intoxicants while driving because it can cause you to be impaired.

“If you have any level of a drug in your system, it’s illegal.

“Just slow down,” she said. 

“That difference in speed is only going to save you a few minutes, whatever the case may be, if you want to get home or get to where you’re going, you could be the best driver in the world, but you have to look out for everybody else as well.

“We don’t want to see another death on the road before the bank holiday is over.”

Dangerous driving behaviour

Further reiterating the safety message, Inspector Peter Gilsenan said: “While we have seen generally good levels of compliance at garda checkpoints across the country, we have still detected people driving at unacceptable speeds and partaking in extremely dangerous driving behaviour such as drug and drink driving.

“Whether there is a road safety operation in place or not, our message never changes: for the sake of yourselves and all roadusers, please slow down and drive safely.

“Do not use your phone when driving and never drive under the influence of an intoxicant.”

An Garda Síochána will continue to monitor and conduct checkpoints on the roads nationwide, using fast-acting technology to detect those operating their vehicles in a dangerous manner.