A garda clampdown on speeding on Irish roads is taking place over the next 24 hours.
Since 7.00am this morning, GoSafe has checked the speed of 133,556 vehicles with 222 detected travelling in excess of the applicable speed limit.
The highest speed recorded was 128km/h in a 80 km/h zone on the R240 at Cashel, Carndonagh in Donegal.
Notable speed occurrences so far include:
- 82 km/h in a 60 km/h on the R563 at Faha East Faha Kerry
- 83 km/h in a 60km/h on the N21 at Croagh Rathkeale Limerick
- 133 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on the N3 at Huntstown Dublin15 Dublin
- 88km/h in a 60km/h zone on the N20 at Baltydaniel West Mallow Cork
- 99km/h in a 80km/h zone on the R693 Clashacrow Freshford Kilkenny
- 88km/h in a 60km/h zone on the N76 Parkmore Kilkenny Kilkenny
- 124 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on the N18 Cratloe Clare
- 120 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on the N15 Mount Temple Grange Sligo
- 71 km/h in a 50 km/h zone on the R683 Knockboy, Waterford, Waterford
- 68 km/h in a 50 km/h zone on the R772 Knockanrahan Lower Arklow Wicklow
- 100km/h in a 80 km/h zone on the R238 Lisfannan, Buncrana, Donegal
- 119km/h in a 100 km/h zone on the N4 Cloonymeenaghan, Riverstown, Sligo
Operation 'Slow Down' is supported by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and will include 1,031 speed enforcement zones, as well as road safety messages on social media until Saturday morning.
National Slowdown Day Some images of GoSafe vehicles from around the country deployed as part of Operation Slow Down pic.twitter.com/Ug5Y8LkV2C
— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) May 27, 2016
The aim of the operation is reduce the number of speed related collisions, save lives, and reduce injuries on our roads.
Gardaí are encouraging the public to get involved in the campaign by tweeting photos of support with the hashtag #thumpsup16 - but obviously not while driving.
Coast Guard giving #Thumbsup16 for National Slow Down day 27-28th May @GardaTraffic pic.twitter.com/FyhzCGJbIo
— Skerries Coast Guard (@SkerriesCG) May 26, 2016
Some 68 people lost their lives on the country's roads so far this year, which is an increase of 13 on the same period last year.
Although 2015 saw a reduction in the number of road deaths compared to the previous year, gardaí have said excessive or inappropriate speed is a major contributory factor to road traffic collisions.
They say that 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.
