“Operation Slowdown” takes place on Irish roads this Friday

Motorists can expect to see an increased Garda presence on our roads this coming Friday as “Operation Slowdown” takes place across the country.

Running from 7am on Friday morning until Saturday morning at 7am, the objective of the operation is to reduce the number of speed related collisions, save lives and reduce injuries on our roads.

In a statement released by Gardai, a spokesperson said: “An Garda Síochána will conduct an intensive national speed enforcement operation for a 24 hour period from 7am Friday, the 26th to 7am Saturday, the 27th May 2017.

“This national “Slow Down” day is supported by the Road Safety Authority and other stakeholders.

“Public and private sector fleet operators have been invited to participate in the initiative by circulating employees with the key message to “Slow Down” and, whether driving for business or private purposes, to always drive within the speed limit and at a speed appropriate to the prevailing conditions.

The operation will consist of Garda high visibility speed enforcement activities on both national primary and secondary roads.

All speed enforcement technologies will be utilised, including laser handheld speed detection devices, Garda safety camera vans and in-car speed detection systems.

GoSafe vehicles will also be deployed on the day in speed enforcement zones where serious and fatal injury collisions have occurred.

In addition to enforcement, the Garda website and in particular social media sites will be actively used to promote this initiative.

In 2015 there were 162 road deaths, the joint lowest number on record, but 2016 saw a marked increase as 189 people died on the roads.

According to the Garda spokesperson: “Excessive and inappropriate speed is a major contributory factor in road traffic collisions, further confirmed by the recent RSA report on fatal collisions between 2008 and 2012 which found that excessive speed was a contributory factor in one third of all fatal collisions during that time. 

“The higher the speed, the greater the likelihood is of a collision happening and the more severe the outcome of that collision.

“As a general rule a 1% reduction in average speed will bring about a 4% reduction in fatal collisions, and this is why reducing motorists’ speed is essential to improving road safety.”