Gardaí will be targeting speeding motorists as national Slow Down Day begins at 7am this morning.

The operation will centre on high visibility speed enforcement activity across the country's road network for the next 24 hours.

So far, 63 people have lost their lives on the nation's roads this year - 14 more than at this point in 2023.

Gardaí say the figure is worryingly high and hope to stop it from rising further by working together to keep road users safe.

Last year, there were 184 fatalities as a result of 173 fatal collisions on Irish roads - a 19% increase in road deaths compared to 2022.

Overall, it is the highest number of fatalities since 2014, when there were 192 deaths.

According to Gardaí, today's operation is part of its overarching strategic plan to improve driving behaviour in an effort to reduce the number of speed related collisions and save lives.

Main image: Garda checkpoint in Cork. Credit: David Creedon / Alamy Live News