‘If we all slow down a little, we can make a big difference’

SOME 129 vehicles were detected travelling above the speed limit in the first five hours of National Slow Down Day, including a vehicle travelling at 122km/h in an 80km/h zone in Lucan. 

An Garda Siochana is this Tuesday and Wednesday conducting a national speed enforcement operation called Slow Down Day.

The operation is on the road between 7am on Tuesday, February 28, to 7am on Wednesday, March 1.

According to a Garda statement, the aim of Slow Down Day is to remind drivers of the dangers of speeding, increase compliance with speed limits and act as a deterrent to driving at excessive or inappropriate speed.

According to figures released by gardai, GoSafe checked the speed of 53,951 vehicles in the first five hours of Slow Down Day, and detected 129 vehicles travelling in excess of the applicable speed limit.

Gardai released examples of high speeds detected nationwide, which included a vehicle travelling at 122km/h in a 80km/h zone on the N4 Dodsborough, Lucan.

A vehicle was also detected travelling at 136km/h in a 100km/h zone on the M50 at Tymon North. 

Chief Superintendent Jane Humphries, Garda National Roads Policing Bureau, said: “It is important to thank all of those drivers who do the right thing and drive not only within the necessary speed limits, but at speeds that are appropriate to the conditions.

“However, each and every day across the country we continue to detect drivers travelling in excess of the speed limit.

“We know that a reduction in average speed will bring about a reduction in fatal collisions, and therefore reducing motorists’ speed is essential to improving road safety.

“Last year sadly saw an increase in fatalities on our roads, we have a collective responsibility for keeping each other safe on the road and I’d appeal to all road users to think about how their actions can have an impact on the lives of others.

“We are asking all drivers to support our National Slow Down Day not just on ‘Slow Down Day’ but every day.

“If we all slow down a little, we can make a big difference”.

According to gardai, last year saw fatal and serious injury road traffic collisions increase, with 156 people fatally injured – the largest death toll on our roads since 2016.

January of this year had the highest number of Road Traffic Fatalities of any January in 10 years, with 20 fatalities.

Recent Garda enforcement data and RSA research demonstrate that drivers continue to speed.

Last year, 73 per cent of fatal collisions occurred on rural (80km/h or more) roads with 27 per cent on urban roads.

The Slow Down Day operation, which is being supported by the Road Safety Authority and other stakeholders, will consist of high visibility speed enforcement across the road network.

Gardai will also deliver the message through various media channels to remind people of the potential impact on families and communities of speeding.