More than 4 out of every 10 drivers have been stopped at a Garda checkpoint in the last 6 months,

Tax, insurance and NCT examinations were identified as the most common reason to be stopped.

In a survey carried out by AA Ireland Motor Insurance in October of this year, 41.54% of motorists stated that they had been stopped by Gardaí in the previous 6 months.

These figures point towards an increase in the number of checkpoints being carried out by Gardaí, as a similar survey carried out in June 2015 found that just 26% of motorists had been stopped by a Garda in the previous 6 months.

However the checks are concentrated in the afternoon and early evening, rather than in the later hours more commonly associated with drink-driving.

In total, over 61% of the more than 9,000 motorists surveyed had been stopped at a Garda checkpoint in the last 12 months, an increase of 17% on the number of those stopped by Gardaí in the 12 months preceding the June 2015 survey.

“While we welcome checkpoints, there appears to be too much concentration on urban areas at relatively safe times of the day", Director of Consumer Affairs Conor Faughnan said. "We would rather see them out and about at times associated with drink-driving. Checking people on their way home from work is fine but flashing blue lights in the car park of the pub at closing time are a highly effective deterrent.”

Carrying out a breathalyser test was the second reason drivers were stopped at a Garda checkpoint, with it accounting for almost 12% of participants.