Gardaí warn of strict measures to cut out drink and drug driving at Punchestown this week

It’s one of the busiest weeks of the Irish horse racing calendar.

Kildare Gardaí and Kildare County Council have announced a road safety campaign aimed at preventing people attending the Punchestown Racing Festival from driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs this week. The Punchestown festival, one of the highlights of the Irish horseracing calendar, gets underway on Tuesday, April 25 and runs until Saturday, April 29 and festival goers have been warned that they will be caught if they attempt to drive while under the influence. The joint road safety campaign has the full support of management at Punchestown racecourse. Garda Inspector Oliver Henry of Naas Garda station is advising motorists to observe and follow the directions and instructions of the Gardaí and traffic stewards in and out of Punchestown this week. “As with previous years, a traffic management plan is in place and drivers are asked to follow the routes and observe the instructions from the Gardaí and traffic stewards,” Henry said. “As with any major event, we will of course be checking drivers for alcohol or illegal drugs and we will also be monitoring speeds and driver behaviour, and this may include using a mobile phone while driving and the non-wearing of a seatbelt.” “Punchestown brings a great atmosphere to the county each year, and thankfully, everyone arrives home safely after the festival but we mustn’t become complacent,” added Declan Keogh, road safety officer with Kildare County Council. “If everyone remains responsible while using the roads and if there is no horseplay inside the vehicle to and from the event, we’ll all arrive home alive. “We are advising drivers to be sober of alcohol or illegal drugs, drive within the speed limit and to the conditions of the road and that drivers and all their passengers are wearing a seatbelt for the journey.”