Garda crackdown on young and reckless Galway drivers

Gardai in the city have promised an ongoing crackdown on ‘young and reckless drivers’ who put their own lives – and those of many others – at high risk with their behaviour on Galway roads.

Operation YARD  – Young and Reckless Drivers – has been ongoing for the past two months and is aimed at identifying young drivers who recklessly endanger lives with their behaviour on the roads.

In the past week, two 21-year-old males were arrested in the West Galway area and charged with offences under Section 53 of the Dangerous Driving Act.

At the beginning of May, Galway Gardai launched a covert operation aimed at monitoring and detecting mainly young males driving at high speeds and often erratically.

A common sight on Galway roads over recent months has been that of black skid marks on surfaces after drivers had performed a series of ‘doughnut’ manoeuvres often in the late night, early morning periods.

Chief Superintendent Tom Curley of the Galway Garda Division said this week that over recent years, ‘boy racer and reckless type’ driving behaviour had become all too common in parts of West Galway.

“Operation YARD demonstrates An Garda Síochána’s commitment to ensure that such behaviour is eradicated.

“It’s part of our ongoing Road Safety strategy which this year has seen a 57% reduction in fatal collisions and a 33% reduction in serious injury collisions across Galway city and county,” said Supt. Curley.