by Louise Doyle
GARDAÍ will be ramping up checkpoints across Donegal this Halloween bank holiday weekend, and are warning people not drive under the influence of drink or drugs or engage in anti social behaviour.
High visibility checkpoints and speed checks will be carried out by gardaí across the county this weekend.
Gardaí have said that with an increased volume of traffic comes an heightened risk of collisions.
“We ask all road users to please use the roads responsibly,” said a garda spokesperson.
“The last thing that anybody wants is for a tragedy to occur on our roads. We ask every road user to act responsibly regardless of how they choose to travel and in doing so they will help save lives.”
Drivers are being urged to slow down, wear their seatbelt, ensure that their passengers are wearing seatbelts and not to drive while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, or use their phone when driving.
Drivers are also being urged to be aware of cyclists and pedestrians, particularly with the daylight savings clock change on Sunday, October 27, which will bring darker evenings and darker mornings.
Anyone walking or cycling during the early or late hours of the day is urged to wear a high visibility vest so that they can be easily seen by drivers.
Meanwhile, people are also being reminded of the horrific and life-changing injuries sustained at Halloween by fireworks.
Gardai are reminding people that fireworks are not only dangerous but illegal.
“There are severe criminal penalties for anyone who is found guilty of the offence of igniting an illegal firework, throwing an ignited firework at a person or property or possession of illegal fireworks for sale or supply. The penalties are fines of up to €10,000 and five years imprisonment.”
Should anybody come across fireworks for sale, or any type of antisocial or illegal behaviour in the run up to Halloween, they are asked to alert gardaí on a 24/7 basis in Letterkenny on (074) 9167100, Milford on (074) 9153060, Buncrana on (074) 9320540 or Ballyshannon on (071) 9858530. Always call 999 or 112 in an emergency.
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