Almost 500 motorists have been caught speeding in the first 14 hours of a garda operation urging drivers to slow down.
The operation, which is running from 7am today until 7am tomorrow, aims to remind motorists of the dangers of speeding and to increase overall compliance with speed limits.
National Slow Down Day comes at the start of the first full week of the new school term for both primary and secondary school students.
Between 7am and 9pm, gardaí said GoSafe checked 130,529 vehicles across the country, with 229 drivers detected speeding.
In addition to GoSafe checks, gardaí caught a further 269 motorists speeding.
One motorist was clocked doing 141km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N4 Greatdown in The Downs, Co Westmeath.
Another driver was caught driving 140km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N3 Drumbarlom in Belturbet, Co Cavan.
In Dublin 18, one motorist was clocked at 78km/h in a 50km/h zone on the Leopardstown Road, while another was caught at 75km/h in a 50km/h zone on the Rochestown Road in Cork.
A driver was clocked at 106km/h in a 80km/h zone on the R772 at Clavass in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, while another was caught at 123km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N18 at Ballinacurra (Weston) in Limerick.
In Cavan, a driver was clocked at 111km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N3 at Lisgrea, Virginia and another was detected driving at 72km/h in a 60km/h zone on the Rathdown Road in Greystones, Co Wicklow.
In the first 12 hours of Slow Down Day, GoSafe checked 90,454 vehicles for speeding nationwide. 170 drivers were detected for speeding.
— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) September 2, 2024
Some speeds detected include:
🔴78km/h in a 50 Zone
🔴89km/h in a 60 Zone
🔴106km/h in an 80 Zone
🔴123km/h in a 100 Zone#SlowDownDay pic.twitter.com/b8uyI8SmFO
With the return of schools, gardaí urged road users to note there will be additional traffic on the roads, in particular younger vulnerable road users.
They also said that with darker evenings ahead, driving conditions will become more challenging.
Last year, 184 people died on Irish roads - up 19% on 2022.
So far this year, 126 people have lost their lives on the roads.
Gardaí said it is important for drivers to note that an increase in speed will "significantly increase the likelihood" of being involved in a serious crash.
Garda figures show that up to the end of June this year, more than 70,000 fixed charge notices had been issued to drivers found speeding - more than 375 drivers every day.
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Chief Superintendent Jane Humphries from the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau said as the darker mornings and evenings hit, people need to take extra care.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, she said that cars have become quieter in recent years, and drivers must be cognisant that pedestrians and cyclists will not always hear them coming.
"And quite often cyclists and pedestrians will be wearing earphones or headphones."
While traffic increases during the school year and parents are under increased stress, Chief Supt Humphries asked them not to park in cycle lanes, footpaths or double yellow lines.
"Don't put someone else in danger or increase their risk simply for your own convenience of dropping your child off quickly," she urged.
