A motorist in Cork was caught driving at 112km/h in a 50km/h zone on National Slow Down Day.
The incident occurred on Main Street in Charleville, where the driver was recorded exceeding the speed limit by more than double.
In the first five hours of the operation, GoSafe vans diligently checked the speed of 41,630 vehicles. As a result, 81 instances of speeding were detected.
- 75km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the N84 Castlequarter Cloonboo Galway
- 63km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the James Larkin Road Dublin 5 Dublin
- 121km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the N21 Rineroe Adare Limerick
- 60km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the R742 Parknacross Courtown Wexford
- 95km/h in a 80km/h Zone on the R418 Aghanure Athy Kildare
- 95km/h in a 80km/h Zone on the R772 Moyne Lower Enniscorthy Wexford
These figures underscore the importance of ongoing efforts to promote road safety and curb reckless driving behaviour.
As part of the nationwide operation, high-visibility speed enforcement patrols have been deployed across the country’s road network, with intensified monitoring continuing until 7 am on Saturday. The aim is to deter speeding and promote safer driving practices among motorists.
The alarming statistics come against a concerning trend in road fatalities. So far this year, 63 lives have been lost on Irish roads, marking a worrying increase compared to the same period last year. Gardaí has emphasised the urgency of addressing this issue to prevent further tragedies and ensure the safety of all road users.
The grim reality of road accidents was further highlighted by the data from 2023, which recorded 184 fatalities resulting from 173 fatal collisions on Irish roads. This marked a significant 19% increase in road deaths compared to the previous year, representing the highest number of fatalities since 2014.
National Slow Down Day, supported by the Road Safety Authority, is a vital initiative to promote safer driving behaviour and raise awareness about the consequences of speeding. The campaign aims to prevent road traffic collisions and save lives by encouraging social collaboration.
The call for greater vigilance and adherence to speed limits underscores the collective responsibility to prioritise road safety. Through concerted efforts and community involvement, the goal is to create a safer environment for all road users and reduce the devastating impact of road accidents.
