Meath Garda Division launches 'Operation Focus'

A Garda operation to raise awareness of driving behaviour kicks off across the county today and continues throughout the month of August with checkpoints on the county’s main roads and motorways.
Inspector John Gordon, who is in charge of traffic in the Meath Division, explained that Operation Focus is designed to bring to the attention of road users the ongoing enforcement in relation to the main causes of accidents including speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, dangerous driving, the non-use of seatbelts and the unlawful use of mobile phones.
The operation, which began at 6am this morning, will last throughout the month of August and will involve rolling checking points over the 24 hour period on the main roads and motorways in the Meath Division. It will involve the traffic unit and ordinary units and is supported by the Road Safety Authority.
Inspector Gordon said there has been success in Meath in terms of reducing road deaths, with two people losing their lives on the county’s roads so far this year. Tragic as this is, Inspector Gordon pointed out it is a reduction from seven on the same period last year and they want to keep the momentum going.
The checkpoints will be spread across the seven days. In the Meath division, 60 per cent of fatalities occur on Thursdays and Fridays, 20 per cent are on Sundays and the remaining 20 per cent occurred on the other days.
While fatalities predominently occur on weekends, Inspector Gordon said the checkpoints will target the entire week.