Gardaí blame drivers using Sat Navs for two-hour Electric Picnic traffic delays

Gardaí are blaming Sat Nav users for the two hour delays experienced by some Electric Picnic festivalgoers on Thursday. 

They issued an update on social media which stated that attendees hadn’t followed garda advice and were instead using sat navs. 

“Day one of traffic into Stradbally has shown us a clear pattern — some drivers are relying on Sat Nav instead of following the official Garda Traffic Plan.

The result? Unnecessary delays, congestion for fellow concertgoers, disruption to local residents, and extra pressure on Garda resources. These issues are entirely avoidable,” Gardaí said in the online post. 

The festival got off to an extremely busy start with large volumes of traffic arriving early to the Stradbally venue on Thursday.  “It was extremely busy and as a result there was delays,” one garda said. They said the traffic plan was going well today.

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The high volumes of traffic were reflected in the early full occupancy of some of the most popular campsites at the festival. 

Festival organisers announced that following the large crowd that availed of early access, Jimi Hendrix, Andy Warhol, Samuel Beckett, Ginsburg and Janis Joplin campsites were all full on Thursday night. 

This announcement was released as a notification on the Electric Picnic official app, and posted on their social media pages. It announced availability in the Poets, Glitterball, Eco and An Ghaeltacht campsites today. 

Meanwhile, Gardaí are urging people to follow the official traffic plan only.  They said routes are fully signposted and Garda-staffed.

“Do not use Sat Nav near Stradbally. It will send you down unsuitable roads. The Garda plan is the safest and quickest way to the site,” they stated. 

They have urged all motorists to allow extra time, take breaks on long drives, always wear a seatbelt, never use a phone when driving and to never drive under the influence of drink or drugs.

“Gardaí will be conducting checkpoints throughout the festival targeting drug and drink driving. Driving while impaired puts lives at risk and will not be tolerated,” Gardaí said. 

They also reminded people that the festival was sold out and they urged them to only buy resale tickets from verified sources.