Over 1,000 motorists detected speeding on National Slow Down Day

MORE THAN 1,000 motorists were detected speeding yesterday during National Slow Down Day.

The initiative was run in partnership with the RSA and began at midnight on Tuesday and ran until 11:59pm.

The aim of the initiative is to promote safer driving and reduce speed-related collisions nationwide, coinciding with increased road use for Christmas holidays.

Notable speeding detections 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.

In all, An Garda Síochána detected 1,038 drivers travelling in excess of the applicable speed limit and of these detections, 377 drivers were intercepted by Gardaí.

Gardaí have reminded the public and all those that will be taking to the roads over the Christmas period to slow down, take extra care and to give your driving your full attention and never, ever drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs.

Meanwhile, gardaí yesterday announced that close to 400 new speed camera safety zones will become operational from New Year’s Day.

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The additional 390 safety camera zones will bring the total number to 1,901.

Safety cameras operate in areas where there is a history of speed-related collisions known as speed enforcement zones.

Locations are selected following an analysis of collated Garda data acquired from fatal, serious and minor road traffic collisions and from further consideration given to locations of concern highlighted by local communities.

Gardaí say that the objective is to take a “proactive approach” in the prevention of fatalities and life-changing injuries by identifying new speed enforcement zones not currently monitored.

Assistant Commissioner Catharina Gunne, of the Roads Policing and Community Engagement, remarked that there is a “small persistent cohort of selfish, dangerous drivers who choose to drive in excess of the posted speed limit”.

She said some of the new locations have been highlighted by members of the community as being areas of concern.

“By identifying and targeting these high-risk areas, the aim is to reduce the number of fatal and serious injury collisions,” said Gunne.

Some 36 of the new safety camera zones are in Dublin, with 30 in Cork and 26 in Donegal.

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