Drink-driving arrests down

One hundred and seventy-three motorists were arrested in Kilcullen for drink-driving offences in the decade 2004-2013, writes Brian Byrne. Two were arrested for driving under the influence of drugs over the same period.

The figures from the Central Statistics Office are against the background of more than 4,900 arrests for drink-driving in County Kildare as a whole over the same period, with 104 arrests in the county for drugs-driving.

The detection rates in Kilcullen were at their highest in 2006/2007/2008 when the drink driving arrests were 31/27/30 respectively. In 2013 there were eight arrests, and so far this year there have been five.

Gardai will mount mandatory alcohol checkpoints over the Christmas period, and will also use new powers to test motorists suspected of driving under the influence of drugs.