Drink and drug drivers targeted

Gardaí in Cavan and Monaghan will be cracking down hard on drink and drug driving over the Christmas and New Year period. 
They issued a stern warning to motorists not to drive under the influence of alcohol or intoxicants last week as gardaí launched their Christmas Road Safety Campaign for 2019/2020.
Members of Cavan Garda Policing Unit vowed to be out in force in towns and villages across the county. They are eager to stress the message - don’t even think about risking it because you will be caught and face the consequences of a possible conviction and loss of your licence.
There will also be a focus on speeding and the use of mobile phones while driving.
“This is becoming a major problem and people all have hands free kits for making and receiving calls. 
“We need motorists to keep their eyes on the road – that is their responsibility. Also, everyone in the car must be wearing a seat belt - that includes children and passengers,” Sergeant James Gallagher told the Celt.

Sergeant Gallagher is the officer in charge of Roads Policing for County Cavan. The Celt caught up with him at a checkpoint operation at Killygarry last week.
He said there is a responsibility on all motorists to be in a fit state to drive at all times, but particularly over the Christmas period. 
The campaign commenced on Monday of this week, November 25 and will continue until January 10, 2020.
Members of the Roads Policing Unit have the ‘Drug Drager 5000’ testing machine in patrol cars to carry out roadside tests to detect those driving under the influence of drugs.
“The test takes approximately five to 10 minutes and so far this year we have arrested 76 people in relation to drug driving in County Cavan and 165 people arrested for drink driving,” said Sgt Gallagher.
“Drug driving is becoming an increasingly larger problem that we are encountering on the roads. While people were somewhat blasé about taking drugs and driving some time back, motorists are becoming more aware of the effects that drugs have on the person and consumption of drugs can affect them for a day or possibly a number of days afterwards,” added the Sergeant.
So if you are planning a big night out over the Christmas - leave the car at home and organise a taxi or a designated driver in advance.