Louth sees sharp fall in drink and drug driving checks
Over 20% Drop in Roadside Testing Across Louth Division
New figures have revealed a significant reduction in drink and drug driving checkpoints across the Louth/Cavan/Monaghan (LCM) Garda Division, prompting renewed concerns about road safety in the region.
Data shows there were 594 Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) checkpoints carried out in the LCM Division during Q3 2024, compared to just 470 in Q3 2025. This represents a 20.8% decrease in roadside testing year-on-year.
National Figures Also Show a Decline
The drop in Louth mirrors a broader national trend. Across the country, 12,930 MIT checkpoints were conducted in the third quarter of 2025, down 7.5% on the same period in 2024.
By comparison, Garda figures from Q3 2019 show 15,392 checkpoints were carried out nationwide — 3,434 more than in Q3 2025.
While some regions recorded increases, including a 39% rise in checkpoints in the Meath/Westmeath division, the sharp decline in Louth and neighbouring counties has raised particular alarm.
Concerns Amid Rising Road Deaths
The reduction in checkpoints comes at a time when road safety statistics are worsening. Last year, 185 lives were lost on Irish roads, which is 45 more fatalities than in 2019.
Separately, figures from the Courts Service reveal a 37% increase in drug driving cases coming before district courts in the first ten months of last year, underlining the growing scale of the problem.
MEP Calls on Garda Management for Answers
Irish MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, a member of the EU Transport Committee, has called on Garda management to explain why roadside testing has fallen despite rising dangers on the roads.
She said the figures were deeply concerning given the surge in road deaths nationwide.
“We know that drug driving has dramatically increased and at the same time, figures show that Gardaí are conducting less roadside checkpoints for drugs and alcohol driving,” she said.
“I don’t understand why Garda management are not ramping up testing at a time of record high road deaths.”
‘Unacceptable’ During a Road Safety Crisis
Ní Mhurchú described the situation as “unacceptable”, arguing that increased enforcement should be a central response to the current road safety crisis.
“From the figures I have looked at, there is a 7.5% decrease in the amount of drug and drink driving checkpoints between 2024 and 2025,” she said.
“We are in the midst of a road safety crisis and we need to be doing everything we can to bring down road deaths. A first step should be more checkpoints and taking drug and drink drivers off our roads.”
Local Impact in Focus
With over a one-fifth reduction in checkpoints in the Louth division, concerns remain that fewer roadside tests could undermine efforts to deter dangerous driving behaviour locally.
Calls are now growing for Garda management to review resources and enforcement strategies to ensure road safety remains a top priority for communities across County Louth and beyond.
