Garda speed checkpoints will be set up at over 1,900 ‘enforcement zones’ nationwide
12:59, 28 May 2026Updated 13:15, 28 May 2026
A Garda checkpoint in Bantry (stock)
With summer just days away, tens of thousands of people will be hitting the road over the long weekend. However, with bank holidays among the most dangerous periods on our roads, it’ll be a busy time for Gardaí who will maintain an increased presence along our roads in the coming days.
This means plenty of checkpoints with Gardaí on the lookout for speeding, intoxicated driving, uninsured motorists and a range of other road traffic offences. A joint statement was issued today by the Road Safety Authority and An Garda Síochána, urging all road users to drive with care over the long weekend.
To date in 2026, 69 people have lost their lives along our roads, four more than this time last year, with a fatal incident occurring almost every second day on average. This is particularly worrying as 2025 saw the highest number of deaths on Irish roads in the last decade.
This weekend, Gardaí are doing all they can to crack down on dangerous behaviours, such as driving under the influence of an intoxicant and speeding.
To that end, a large number of checkpoints and speed vans will be set up at ‘enforcement zones’ across the country. There are over 1,900 of these zones nationwide, which include several roads across Cork – mainly where there have been serious and fatal incidents over the years.
Of course, you can get pulled over for speeding anywhere, and checkpoint locations are often deliberately unpredictable, but Gardaí have specific ‘safety locations’ where they target dangerous driving in particular.
Gardaí operate speed cameras and checkpoints at these locations, which can be entire stretches of road identified as ‘collision zones.’ These zones can include sections up to 15km long where Gardaí can conduct mobile speed checks, use speed cameras, or set up checkpoints at any point along the route.
In Cork, some of the main routes are covered under An Garda Síochána’s official list of locations, including:
The N25, M8, N40, N20, N22 and throughout the city centreThe N22 ‘Straight Road’ to Carrigrohane and BallincolligThe N27 from the Kinsale Road Roundabout to the AirportThe N71 Bandon RoadThe N71 from Donemark through Bantry and to LetterlickeyThe N71 through Skibbereen to AghadownThe R592from Cashmore and through SchullThe R600 route between the Airport, Riverstick, Belgooly and KinsaleThe N28 from Maryborough to RingaskiddyThe entire route from Ballinrea, through Carrigaline, to RingaskiddyThe R610 Rochestown Road through Passage West and to MonkstownThe R624 from Carrigtwohill, through Fota Island, and to CobhThe R630 from Midleton to RostellanMost of the route between Bandon and DunmanwayThere is even a small stretch out on the Beara between Castletownbere and Rossmackowen.
You can find the full list of speed enforcement zones here.
With summer festivities in full swing this weekend, our roads will be much busier than usual, increasing the risk of collisions. Research by Gardaí into collision data gathered over the four previous June Bank Holiday weekends shows that the risk of collision is at its highest between 12 pm and 9 pm throughout the weekend.
A similar analysis of intoxicated driving arrests noted that the highest volume of arrests for driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol was made between 9 pm and 3 am.
Gardaí have reminded all road users to take extra care over the June bank holiday weekend. Drivers are urged to slow down, choose a speed appropriate to the conditions, never use a mobile phone while driving, always wear a seatbelt, and never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Chief Superintendent David Harrington, Garda National Roads Policing Bureau, said: “Regrettably, we are still seeing a high number of drivers getting behind the wheel after consuming drugs and alcohol. Last month, 165 people were arrested for driving while intoxicated during the May bank holiday weekend. This is not only unacceptable and dangerous behaviour, it is also against the law.
“Everyone has the right to get home safe this weekend. We are appealing to all road users to never, ever drive after taking drugs or drinking alcohol. If you are socialising this weekend, plan your journey home in advance. Use taxis and public transport, or organise a lift home with friends and family.
“If you are detected driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you will be arrested. And if you are convicted, you will lose your licence.”
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