Motorist caught speeding at 167km/hr in an 80km/hr zone on Laois road

A MOTORIST in Co Laois has been caught doing 167km/hr in an 80km/hr zone on the R430 road in Drumagh, Crettyard over the Christmas period.

This is according to An Garda Síochána, who have issued a Christmas and New Year road safety appeal focused on the dangers of driving under the influence.

Gardaí are conducting a dedicated road traffic enforcement operation throughout the Christmas period, starting Monday, 1st December and continuing through to Monday, 5th January 2026.

Garda forces have carried out nearly 2,100 checkpoints in the last week alone, using both statutory Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) and regular, high-visibility policing checkpoints.

Between Monday 22nd December and Sunday 28th December, there were 3 fatalities on Ireland’s roads and 8 serious collisions that resulted in several people receiving life-threatening injuries.

149 people were arrested during this period for driving under the influence of an intoxicant (alcohol and drugs), and over 435 vehicles were seized by Gardaí for a range of offences under the Road Traffic Act, 1961.

Approximately 150 Fixed Charge Notices were issued for the offence of using a mobile phone while driving and approximately 45 Fixed Charge Notices were issued for seat belt offences.

Over 4,600 drivers were detected for speeding offences by An Garda Síochána, among them the motorist caught in Co. Laois.

Gardaí have reminded motorists that the Christmas period is one of the busiest on Irish roads, and one in which road users are at the highest risk of being involved in a fatal or serious road traffic collision.

To date, 189 people have lost their lives in road traffic collisions on Irish roads.

An Garda Síochána is appealing to all those who will be taking to the roads over the Christmas period to slow down, take extra care and to give your driving your full attention.