Gardaí have renewed appeals for road safety to be prioritised as more than 2,500 drivers have been caught speeding this bank holiday weekend.

A Garda Roads Policing Operation is currently underway for the duration of the long weekend, getting underway on Thursday, July 30.

The Operation concludes on Tuesday, August 4, with officers conducting both statutory Mandatory Intoxicant Testing and regular, high-visibility policing checkpoints.

An update from the force on Sunday morning revealed that more than 2,540 drivers were detected for speeding offences in the first three days of the operation.

Among the most shocking speeds recorded on Saturday, August 1, was a road user doing 101 km/h in a 50km/h zone on the Dublin Road, Galway, Co Galway.

Another road-user was found doing 182km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N4 Moher, Aughamore, Co Leitrim.

Gardaí said a total of 88 people have been arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant (alcohol and drugs), while 270 drivers have been found holding a mobile phone and/or not wearing a seatbelt.

A statement from the force said: ‘This weekend’s road safety enforcement operation focuses on the four lifesaver offences in an effort to ensure that all road users get home safe — speeding; driving under the influence; using a mobile phone while driving; not wearing a seatbelt.’

They added that road safety ‘needs’ to be a priority for everyone.

‘Slow down and stick to the speed limit,’ they urged.

‘Never drive under the influence of drink or drugs. Wear your seatbelt and don’t get distracted by mobile devices when you are driving,’ they added.

‘You can help get another person home safe this weekend.’