The State Police has promised that as usual during the Midsummer holidays they will monitor road users more closely, and conduct increased checks to find drivers under the influence of alcohol.
In total, the police arrested 20 drivers yesterday for driving under the influence of alcohol: nine in the Rīga region, two in Latgale, one in Zemgale, three in Kurzeme, and six in Vidzeme.
The majority of those arrested will find that Midsummer will prove extremely costly – 15 drivers were heavily intoxicated, which means their vehicles or its equivalent value will be confiscated.
On Līgo Day, 80 road traffic accidents were registered in Latvia, in which one person died and another 16 people were injured, the State Police informed.
At 2:05 a.m. in Tukums district, a car drove off the road and overturned. One person died in the traffic accident and two persons were taken to a medical facility. The police are still investigating the circumstances of the incident.
On Sunday, seven people were injured in accidents in the Riga region, three in Zemgale, 15 in Kurzeme, 10 in Latgale, five in Vidzeme. One of the victims was a pedestrian, three were cyclists and one was the driver of an electric scooter.
Yesterday, 257 protocols were drawn up for speeding drivers: 24 drivers were fined in the Rīga region, 46 in Kurzeme, 57 in Vidzeme, 64 in Latgale, and 66 in Zemgale. Six drivers were fined for aggressive driving.
In total, the police issued 523 protocols for violations of traffic rules on June 23.
Previous years have seen around 25 drunk drivers caught on any given day of the Midsummer holidays, wih the trend remaining fairly constant despite repeated attempts to clamp down.
If you're driving today and you had a few beers during the celebrations overnight – please make sure you're well rested and fully sober before getting behind the wheel.
