North West police chiefs: Disclosing checkpoints on social media keeps no one safe

Gardaí in Donegal will be out in force this weekend as thousands arrive for ‘Donegal Rally Weekend’.

Roads policing has been ramped up in partnership with the PSNI and additional motorbikes, marked and unmarked garda vehicles are coming into the area.

Each year, road activity separate to the official Donegal International Rally has attracted attention for the wrong reasons, and Garda Superintendent David Kelly says gardaí are encouraging the public to report dangerous behaviour they may see.

As recently as last night, evidence of diffing has cropped up on main roads and rural roads countywide.

Supt Kelly told our sister site Donegal Daily: “I don’t condone that activity at all. It’s disgraceful, it’s terrible. I will say it’s only a minority of people who do that, so we would be appealing to the public, An Garda Siochana unfortunately cannot be everywhere at every time.

“There is even a phenomenon on social media where people are reporting where guards are doing checkpoints and that doesn’t help keep people safe.”

Supt Kelly is inviting the public also to be vigilant to play their part in halting dangerous drivers.

“We are saying to the public out there, if you see something, please notify us, get the registration at the make of the car, if you have dashcam available or any other CCTV footage, make that available to the guards and over the process of time we follow it up,” he said.

“We have got to realise we are working with the public in partnership to keep Donegal safe.”

As tens of thousands of people arrive for to take part in and watch the Donegal International Rally, and many more on holiday, gardaí are doing a joint operation with PSNI in Derry and Strabane.

Checkpoints are being launched for drunk driving, speeding, not wearing seatbelts, texting and using mobile phones while driving and also dangerous defective vehicles.

There will be more speed van presence throughout Donegal and checkpoints will be focused not only in Donegal but in the entire north western region.

Supt Kelly said the focus of gardaí is ensuring that people coming to Donegal are in compliance with legislation and their vehicles are safe to be used on our roads.

To #KeepTheRaceInItsPlace, gardaí have asked drivers this weekend to:

Slow down.

Obey diversions which may be in place.

Never drive while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Always wear your seat belt.

Do not use/ hold your mobile phone while driving.

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