Gardaí launch Christmas road safety campaign

Ellen O'Donoghue

An Garda Síochána have launched its Christmas road safety campaign, which runs the entirety of December until January 5th 2026.

Gardaí and the Road Safety Authority have appealed to road users to stay safe and never to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

To date in 2025, 166 people have died in road traffic collisions on Irish roads.

Over the Christmas and New Year period, there is an increase in road use for recreational purposes, and the risk of fatal or serious injury collisions increases, gardaí said.

No garda wants to be calling to your family’s door this Christmas

The force is conducting a dedicated road traffic enforcement operation throughout the Christmas period, which began at 7am on Monday, December 1st, and will run until Monday, January 5th, 2026.

Every member of An Garda Síochána on duty will be out conducting road traffic enforcement activity.

There will be an increased presence on the roads to detect drink and drug drivers and also to deter key risk behaviours, such as speeding, mobile phone use, and non-wearing of seatbelts.

According to a new survey by the Road Safety Authority, 12 per cent of drivers admitted to having driven after consuming alcohol in the past 12 months.

The survey found that the most common scenario for a driver to be on the road while potentially over the legal alcohol limit is after drinking in a pub/restaurant, or at home, and then driving on a rural road, with a slightly higher likelihood of this happening over a weekend.

A smaller percentage of drivers, 4 per cent, admitted to having driven after using illicit drugs over the past 12 months.

Up to November 30th, 2025, gardaí detected nearly 8,000 drivers driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and carried out more than 93,000 checkpoints.

Assistant Commissioner Catharina Gunne, Roads Policing and Community Engagement, appealed to those who will be taking to the roads over the Christmas period to slow down, take extra care, give driving your full attention and never drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs.

"Many people will be out socialising with colleagues, friends and family over the next few weeks. Please plan ahead for your journey. Leave the car at home. Use taxis and public transport where possible to get home and avoid driving the following morning also," Ms Gunne said.

"Members of An Garda Síochána will be out day and night across the country as part of our enforcement campaign. We will intercept drink and drug drivers. If convicted, you will lose your licence. Please don’t be one of them.

"No garda wants to be calling to your family’s door this Christmas.”

Minister of State with responsibility for Road Safety, Seán Canney, welcomed garda plans for the Christmas period.

"Do not put your life or the lives of others at risk. Don’t let friends or family drink and drive. If you plan to socialise, plan how you are to get home safely, and if you have been out the night before, think before you start the car. Alcohol and drugs can remain in your system longer than you think. The consequences are real and tragically, can be fatal," he said.

The Road Safety Authority's chief executive officer, Sam Waide, said that Christmas should be a time of joy, not loss.

"Our research has shown that over a third of drivers killed between 2016 and 2020 had a positive toxicology for alcohol. These decisions leave empty seats at family tables and communities devastated. I’m urging everyone: if you’re drinking or using drugs, don’t drive – ever," Mr Waide said.

"Plan your journey, use alternative transport, and look out for one another. Together, we can prevent tragedy on our roads this Christmas.”