A driver caught doing 228kph on the M1 was one of almost 3,000 people caught speeding over the Hank Holiday weekend.

Gardaí say they carried out an extensive roads policing operation throughout the Imbolc/St Brigid’s Day weekend.

There were over 898 Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) checkpoints set up around the country over the five-day period.

Over 4,780 roadside drug and alcohol tests were conducted which led to 161 arrests for driving under the influence of an intoxicant – over 15% of which happened between the hours of 6am and 2pm.

Meanwhile, almost 3,000 people were caught speeding with a driver clocked at 228kph on the M1 at Balgatheran, Drogheda the worst offender.

Another driver was caught doing 143kph in a 60kph zone near New Ross in County Wexford, while a third was caught driving at nearly 100kph down Dublin’s Cork Street.

Two people died on the roads over the weekend, while 12 people suffered serious and life-threatening injuries.

Garda National Roads Policing Bureau Chief Superintendent Jane Humphries said: “Gardaí working nationwide over the Bank Holiday Weekend received good support from the public and we really hope that this continues as it helps us to keep road users safe.”

“Enforcing road traffic laws is core element of road safety and so too is our work to raise awareness among all ages.

“We all have a personal responsibility to prevent road fatalities and serious injury road traffic collisions, and we must work together.”

Over the weekend, Gardaí also handed out nearly 400 fines for using mobile phones, driving without seatbelts and learners driving unaccompanied.