Donegal gardaí to conduct road safety campaign for St Brigid's Bank Holiday Weekend

Donegal gardaí will be carrying out an enhanced Road Safety and Traffic Enforcement campaign over the St Brigid’s Bank Holiday weekend from 7am today until 7am Tuesday, February 3.

In addition to dedicated Bank Holiday checkpoints and enforcement activity, every member of An Garda Síochána on duty will be out conducting road traffic enforcement activity.

According to official statistics, 188 persons died on Irish Roads in 2025 - the largest number of persons who have died on Irish roads in over a decade.

Gardaí have warned that distracted driving is a significant factor in road safety, and have reminded drivers that it is an offence to hold a mobile phone while driving a vehicle. 

Over the last five years, An Garda Síochána has issued nearly 110,000 Fixed Charge Notice for holding a mobile phone while driving. There has been over a 30 per cent increase in Fixed Charge Notices for holding a mobile phone from just over 18,500 FCNs in 2022 to nearly 24,500 FCNs in 2025.

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The Road Safety Authority carried out an Observational Survey on Mobile Device Usage during September and October 2025. The manual observational study was conducted at 145 sites and included 22,582 observations of handheld mobile device usage among drivers of passenger cars, goods vehicles, and buses/coaches as they passed the site.

The results from this survey showed that eight per cent of motorists were using a handheld mobile device, and this represents a deterioration in behaviour when compared to the 2024 survey, where six per cent of motorists were seen using a device.

Distracted driving goes further than specifically the holding of a mobile phone, but also includes checking messages/ content on any app on any mobile device, watching videos or other content but also activities such as shaving, applying makeup, eating and drinking to the extent where these activities impede and distract driving. 

These activities can also be prosecuted by issuing a Fixed Charge Notice under section 51(a) Road Traffic, driving without Reasonable Consideration, or in more serious cases being charged for offences of Careless and maybe Dangerous Driving.

Over the last five years, An Garda Síochána has issued nearly 30,000 Fixed Charge Notice for Driving without Reasonable Consideration. There has been nearly a 36 per cent increase in Fixed Charge Notices for Driving Without Reasonable Consideration from 2022 to 2025.

An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority are appealing to all road users to stay safe this bank Holiday weekend, with the basic messages: don’t drive distracted, don’t drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, slow down and always drive within the posted legal speed limit and/ or at an appropriate speed to the prevailing conditions and always wear a seatbelt.

Minister of State with responsibility for Road Safety, Seán Canney, said: "One of the most dangerous behaviours on our roads is driving while distracted. Driving while using a mobile device is utterly unacceptable but unfortunately, this behaviour has become far too common on our roads.  Driving any vehicle requires your full attention, and it is unacceptable to put lives at risk by picking up the phone - whatever the reason.

“Too many families and communities have lost loved ones to road traffic collisions, and I appeal to all road users this weekend to put your devices away and to drive in a manner that protects the safety of other road users.”

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Assistant Commissioner Catharina Gunne, Roads Policing and Community Engagement said: "Driving requires your full attention. When you pick up a mobile phone, read a message, or interact with any device behind the wheel, you are placing yourself, your passengers, and every other road user at risk. No call, message or notification is worth a life. Put the phone away, remove distractions, and stay focused on the road.”

"We are asking everyone to play their part. A safe journey is the responsibility of every driver. By eliminating distractions and making safe decisions, you can help ensure that all road users arrive home safely.”

Sam Waide, Chief Executive Officer, Road Safety Authority, said: "Our new Mobile Device Usage Observational Survey shows that eight per cent of motorists were observed using a handheld mobile device, which represents a deterioration in behaviour when compared to last year. This is alarming because distracted driving due to handheld mobile device usage is one of the dangerous behaviours that leads to road traffic collisions. Recent data from the World Health Organisation indicates that drivers using a mobile phone are four times more likely to be involved in a collision.”