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Driver at 106km/h in 50km/h zone near school among Slow Down Day speed detections

Updated / Friday, 20 Dec 2024 18:21
The 24-hour enforcement operation began at 7am
The 24-hour enforcement operation began at 7am

A driver doing 106km/h in a 50km/h zone close to a primary school in Co Longford this morning is among those caught speeding as part of National Slow Down Day.

Gardaí are appealing to motorists to slow down over the busy festive period.

The enforcement operation, carried out in partnership with the Road Safety Authority, aims to clampdown on speeding. It came into effect at 7am and will run for 24 hours.

Gardaí have said the motorist, who was detected at more than twice the speed limit, in Longford also tested positive for cocaine and cannabis.

Gartdaí in Birr detected a motorist travelling at a speed of 97 km/h in a 50km/h zone through Cloghan, Co Offaly.

One motorist was stopped after driving at 107km/h in a 60km/h zone in Ballina, Co Mayo.

Among the other notable speed detections seen so far were one motorist travelling at 137km/h in an 80km/h zone on the N4 in Lucan, Dublin, another detected doing 122km/h in an 80km/h zone on the R680 in Waterford, and a motorist travelling at 139km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N11 in Newcastle, Wicklow.

Another motorist was caught driving 122km/h in an 80km/h zone in Butlerstown, Waterford.

Gardaí said 189 speeding detections were made in the first ten hours of the campaign.

Over the past seven days, 2,300 drivers have been detected speeding - among them one motorist in Lusk in Dublin, caught doing 203km/h in a 120km/h zone on the M1.

"Be mindful, don't be distracted, and try and stay focused when you’re in the car," said Chief Superintendent Jane Humphries.

Speeding was a key factor for almost one-third of fatal collisions, and already this year, more than 150,000 fixed charge notices have been issued to motorists for speeding, according to gardaí.

An Garda Síochána warned that additional traffic is expected over the Christmas period, including an increase in vulnerable road users, pedestrians and cyclists as more people are outside shopping, running errands and catching up with friends and family.

The gardaí warned that "any increase in speed increases a driver’s likelihood of being involved in a serious or fatal road traffic collision".

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Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme, Chief Superintendent Humphries said that the primary aim is to "keep everybody safe on our roads".

"There will be enhanced enforcement on the roads specifically for 80 and 100 kilometre speed limits because we know that these are the locations where the majority of the fatal and serious injury collisions occur," she said.

Chief Superintendent Humphries, of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau, added that the operation is nationwide.

"It is important to remember that whether or not a vehicle is actually exceeding the speed limit, if a vehicle has been involved in a collision, it simply means it was going far too fast to have been able to stop in time," she said.

"Unfortunately, the faster we're going, the more will be the severity of the injuries that are caused," she added.

She advised people to take plenty of time when making a journey and not to rush or be distracted.

Sam Waide, Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority, said it is "clear speeding continues to play a significant role in fatal collisions on Irish roads".

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