Christmas travel: Gardaí are out in force today as one driver is clocked at 163 km/h

GARDAÍ ARE OUT in force across Ireland today for National Slow Down Day, a 24-hour speed enforcement operation aimed at promoting safer driving during the busy Christmas holiday period.

The initiative, run in partnership with the Road Safety Authority (RSA), began at midnight and will run until 11:59pm.

So far, gardaí and safety cameras have detected nearly 150 vehicles exceeding speed limits.

Notable examples included several drivers travelling more than twice the speed limit – a driver in Dublin 14 was caught doing 119 km/h in a 50 km/h zone, while another motorist was detected travelling 139 km/h in a 60 km/h zone in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow.

“Driving above the legal speed limit – or at a speed unsuitable for current road, weather or traffic conditions – not only endangers the driver but also puts other road users at significant risk,” a garda spokesperson said.

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“Excessive speed reduces a driver’s ability to respond to unexpected hazards and increases the likelihood of losing control, which can result in serious or fatal collisions.”

The operation comes as road fatalities continue to rise.

As of today, 186 people have died in road traffic collisions, compared with 167 at the same point last year, an increase of 19.

Pedestrians account for 44 of the deaths, drivers 74, motorcyclists 30, passengers 21, pedal cyclists 14, e-scooter users 2, and one classified as ‘other’.

Gardaí have also been conducting checkpoints and high-visibility patrols nationwide, focusing on drink and drug-driving, speeding, seatbelt use, and mobile phone offences.

Over recent weeks, more than 5,300 drivers were detected speeding, 170 arrested for drink or drug-driving, and over 650 vehicles seized for road offences.

The Christmas and New Year period is one of the most dangerous times on Irish roads, gardaí have warned, with increased traffic volumes, social gatherings, and poor weather conditions contributing to higher risks.

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