Gardaí can now get permission to drive against flow of traffic during pursuits

Gardaí can now be given permission to drive against the flow of traffic on motorways and dual carriageways during pursuits.

A new spontaneous pursuits procedure from An Garda Síochána outlines that gardaí can drive contra-flow to traffic if it is safe to do so.

The new procedure means pursuits no longer have to automatically be called off when a chase goes contra-flow to traffic - a garda source has confirmed.

Spontaneous traffic pursuits are managed from a control centre and will now determine if gardaí are permitted to drive on the wrong side of a motorway or dual carriageway in pursuit of a criminal.

This tactic is occasionally used by criminals in an effort to call off a chase.

A Garda was summoned to face a Circuit Court this year after pursuing a vehicle driving on the wrong side of the N7 in 2021 which saw the three occupants of the car die following a head on collision with a truck.

The new procedure stresses that pursuits should not cause risk to the public.