41 drivers have been arrested for driving under the influence so far this year.
The figure is up compared to last year, with Gardaí in Waterford upping their presence on roads across the city and county.
Gardaí are reminding the public that it is never acceptable to get behind the wheel of a car when under the influence. New speed limits on local rural roads were also introduced earlier this year.
Waterford Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Deirdre O'Neill has this message for drivers.
"We want to draw attention this week to drivers driving under the influence. We've seen a significant increase year-to-date, so that's only six weeks into this year. In Waterford there have been twenty-three drivers arrested, in Tramore there have been eleven, and in Dungarvan, there have been seven and they're all up on last year.
"Gardaí want to highlight the reasons that you can be prosecuted for this and how you can be detected. We have checkpoints where there's mandatory alcohol testing or intoxicant testing.
"No matter who you are, if you're stopped Gardaí can ask you to provide a sample of your breath or a sample of oral fluid for testing."
Traffic fatalities as of the 19th February 2025:
| Pedestrians | 4 |
| Drivers | 13 |
| Passengers |
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1 |
| E-Scooter Driver/Passenger | 0 |
| Motorcyclists |
2 |
| Pedal Cyclists |
0 |
| Pillion Passengers /Other | 0 |
| Total Year To Date |
20 |
Roadside testing
"These are very effective kits", Sergeant O'Neill contained, "that will determine whether there's alcohol in your bloodstream or whether you've taken several different drugs. Following on from that if there's a positive detection you'll be arrested, conveyed to the Garda station, and then a further sample be taken.
"We would also stop drivers if we think their driving is erratic or irregular. We can stop them in those circumstances and request a test under section 107 of the Road Traffic Act. Sometimes people drive too slowly if they're under the influence too fast or on the wrong side of the road.
"If you fail or refuse to provide a sample then It goes to court and then the judge would be informed that there was a failure or refusal. In most cases, you are better off providing a sample.
"Now we have the Drager 5000 since 2017 and that takes a sample of your saliva and it tests it for cocaine, cannabis, opiates, so that would be morphine and other drugs such as Valium. So even if they're prescribed to you, you have to be cognizant of whether you should be driving or not. It isn't whether they're legally held, it's whether they're in your system and they will affect your driving."
Alcohol limits for novice and experienced drivers.
Specified drivers – novice, leaners, commercial and professional
20 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of blood
27 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of urine
9 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath
Non specified drivers
50 micrograms of alcohol per 100 ml of blood
67 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of urine
27 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath
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