A total of 235 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and over 5,000 speeding offences were detected over the St Patrick's Bank Holiday period, gardaí have revealed.
Six people died on Irish roads over the last week, bringing the total number of road fatalities this year to 38 - an increase of six compared to the same dates in 2025.
Gardaí carried out both statutory Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) and high-visibility policing checkpoints as part of a roads policing operation over the last seven days.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, in advance of the release of the figures, Superintendent Liam Geraghty said the number of people being arrested for driving under the influence was "really disappointing", considering the volume of media and public commentary around road safety, road deaths, and behaviour on the roads.
He added there seems to be a "disconnect somewhere between people who are using our roads and their own view".
Mr Geraghty said that people express their concern about rising numbers of road deaths, and yet the Road Safety Authority has figures from "recent surveys" showing that "12% of Irish motorists will admit that they will drive while under the influence of alcohol.
"25%, or one-in-four, believe that driving a short distance after drinking is still acceptable but yet then they call out saying it's terrible that people are dying on our roads," and the same goes for speeding, he said.
"Even while we have had an increased enforcement campaign out there, that people are still taking those risks, still taking that risk to drive, and passengers are getting in to cars with some of these individuals as well.
"The big concern is that even when we are announcing that there are additional checkpoints taking place, additional enforcement and people are very, very aware of travelling around bank holiday weekends, that we're still seeing such a high volume of people taking that chance of speeding and driving while under the influence, putting themselves and everybody else at risk on the roads."
An Garda Síochána said it continues to appeal to all road users to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and to slow down, remain vigilant and give their full attention to the road.
