Drivers warned of increased checkpoints across Tipp

Tipp drivers are being warned to expect to meet Gardaí across the county this weekend. 

Extra patrols, checkpoints and an increased presence will be on the streets of towns and villages throughout the Bank Holiday period with the force focusing on road safety. 

Tipperary is the worst county in Ireland for road fatalities so far this year with 11 lives lost since the 1st of January. 

Garda Niamh Dooley of the Traffic Corp division there says expecting a significant amount of extra traffic to pass through the county over the Easter holidays. 

Statistically, there are more accidents, both fatal and non-fatal, over Bank Holiday periods as extra cars take to the roads to visit family and friends….many people undertaking longer journeys than normal. 

Garda Dooley is appealing to those planning a lengthy trip to take their time and ensure they are rested up.

Tipperary Gardaí will be out in increased numbers across the coming days with a series of organised checkpoints being set up. 

They will be targeting speed, drink driving, the wearing of seat belts and the use of mobile phones.

11 people have been killed on Tipperary's roads so far this year…the highest number for any county in Ireland. 

This compares with 10 deaths over the entire 12 months of 2013. 

Figures released by the Gardaí and the Road Safety authority show that one of the Ireland's worst speeding offence was detected here- a driver clocked doing a 189 km/h in a hundred km zone on the R639 in Cahir.

Research the chances of being killed in a collision increase dramatically when the speed is above 50 kilometres an hour. 

An additional Garda Robot Van has also been dispatched to Tipperary for two months while extra traffic corp Gardaí have been drafted in from neighbouring counties to monitor driver behaviour.

Gardaí are handing out high-visibility vests at the Showgrounds Shopping centre in Clonmel this afternoon…the vests are also available from any local Garda station. 

Meanwhile with the fine weather forecast the county's water enthusiasts are being urged to stay safe and not take risks.

Already this week a young life was cut short when a teenager drowned in a reservoir in Dublin.

Speaking on Tipp Today John Leech of Irish Water Safety is urging people to stay clear of reservoirs and quarries and never enter the water with alcohol consumed.