National Slow Down Day: 24-hour road safety speed initiative
By Mary Dennehy
During the first two hours of National Slow Down Day, An Garda Siochana and GoSafe checked the speed of 29,593 vehicles nationally – with 171 vehicles detected travelling above the speed limit.
According to An Garda Siochana, one of the detections included a vehicle in Lucan travelling at 114km/h in a 80km/h zone.
(file shot)
This Friday and Saturday, March 26 and 27, is National Slow Down Day, a 24-hour road safety speed initiative.
The initiative is in operation from 7am today until Saturday morning, 7am.
In a press statement, An Garda Siochana said that the aim of the day is to remind drivers of the dangers of speeding, to increase compliance with speed limits and act as a deterrent to driving at excessive or inappropriate speed.
The overall objective is to reduce the number of speed related collisions, save lives and reduce injuries on the country’s roads.
According to figures released by An Garda Siochana, there were 137 fatal collisions resulting in 148 fatalities on Irish roads between January and December 2020.
Chief Superintendent Ray McMahon, Roads Policing Bureau, said: “Firstly I would like to thank those who travel within the speed limits, which is necessary to save lives.
“While most drivers and riders drive safely and within these limits, there are unfortunately still those who do not.
“National Slow Down day is about making our roads and our communities safer. During the current COVID-19 restrictions we have seen an increase in the number of vulnerable users on our roads.
“Despite reduced volumes of traffic on our roads the levels of speed has increased.”
Mr Sam Waide, CEO, Road Safety Authority, has asking all drivers to support National Slow Down Day and every day by “easing off on the accelerator”.
“Speeding is a factor in a third of fatal crashes each year and those most at risk are vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists”, Mr Waide said.
“Hit at 60km/h a pedestrian has only a 10 per cent chance of survival.
“Hit at 30km/h a pedestrian has a 90 per cent chance of survival.
“Slowing down behaviour saves lives, particularly when road conditions are wet.”
