Motorist arrested for drink-driving after overtaking cop car at railway crossing

The image shared on social media showing the offending motorist’s vehicle after being pulled by a Garda car

A motorist was arrested for drink driving in Westmeath this morning after overtaking an unmarked Garda car at a railway junction in icy conditions.

Details of the incident near the town of Delvin were shared on social media by the Garda Traffic Corps, along with an image showing the offending motorist’s car at the side of the road in front of the Garda vehicle.

“A frosty reception from Delvin RPU (Roads Policing Unit) for a driver who thought it was chill to overtake a Garda car at a railway junction in icy conditions!” it said.

The motorist was arrested for driving under the influence following the incident.

“Remember, it’s never cool to drink and drive!” added the social media post.

Figures released by An Garda Síochána show that 5,733 people were arrested for drink driving last year, while 3,130 were detained for driving under the influence of drugs.

Earlier this week, a garda attached to the Roads Policing Division told the Irish Mirror that drug driving was now a big problem on Irish roads, and there is no sign of it abating.

“Drug driving, in my opinion, has always been around, but recent advances in technology means that gardaí can now detect it by use of roadside testing kits,” said Sergeant Gavin Coleman.

“We have transferred over to a more efficient way of testing using drug sticks. Beforehand, the drug testing machine had to be carried around in the car whereas now it’s as small as a Covid test. We can carry them in our pocket.

“So it’s a big change for us because our members, especially those on motorcycles, can carry them. This means we’re able to test a lot more people.”

He added: “We’re catching an awful lot of people. It’s primarily cannabis and cocaine, cannabis is probably number one followed very quickly behind by cocaine.

“It is a worrying trend that doesn’t seem to be going down. We will continue to be out there, we will continue to mount checkpoints, we will continue to test people who we believe consumed intoxicants.

“We will continue to test people who are driving while we believe they are impaired such as by the usual indicators, like veering across lanes,” he said.

“A driver can be tested under three different circumstances; if a garda suspects you have consumed an intoxicant, if a driver has committed any road traffic offence, but gardaí also have the power to randomly test any driver that is stopped at a Mandatory Intoxicant Test Checkpoint. This is a checkpoint authorised by an Inspector and anyone stopped can be tested,” explained Sergeant Coleman.

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