Hundreds of drivers caught speeding on National Slow Down Day

A total of 628 cars were caught speeding on National Slow Down Day, February 28 with some drivers caught doing twice the speed limit.

During National Slow Down Day from 7am to 7pm, GoSafe checked the speed of 173,811 vehicles and detected 628 vehicles travelling in excess of the applicable speed limit.

Gardaí said examples of motorists putting themselves and others at risk include:

117km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the N6 Baile An Phoill Gaillimh Gaillimh
92km/h in a 60km/h Zone on the N4 Drishoge Carrick-On-Shannon Roscommon
92km/h in a 60km/h Zone on the Monaghan Road Castleblayney Monaghan
122km/h in a 80km/h Zone on the N4 Doddsborough Lucan Dublin
159km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the N25 Ballyadam Carrigtwohill Cork
139km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the N24 Woodrooff Clonmel Tipperary
153km/h in a 120km/h Zone on the M6 An Carn Mór Thiar Órán Mór Gaillimh
113km/h in a 80km/h Zone on the R445 Greatheath Portlaoise Laois
126km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the N21 Tooreenmore Knocknagoshel Kerry
115km/h in a 80km/h Zone on the R513 Herbertstown Herbertstown Limerick

An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to drivers to comply with speed limits in order to reduce the number of speed related collisions, save lives and reduce injuries on our roads.

Last year saw fatal and serious injury road traffic collisions increase with 156 people fatally injured, the largest death toll on Irish roads since 2016. January of this year had the highest number of Road Traffic Fatalities of any January in 10 years, with 20 fatalities.

Recent Garda enforcement data and RSA research demonstrate that drivers continue to speed. During 2022, 73% of fatal collisions occurred on rural (80km/h or more) roads with 27% on urban roads.

It has been estimated that 30% of fatal collisions are the result of speeding or inappropriate speed.

Mr Sam Waide, CEO, Road Safety Authority, said: "Excessive speed continues to be a leading contributory factor in fatal and serious injury collisions in Ireland and internationally. It has been estimated that 30% of fatal collisions are the result of speeding or inappropriate speed. Evidence shows that many drivers are choosing to speed in our towns, villages and on rural roads.

"The RSA’s Free Speed observational study found that half of all drivers (52%) were observed speeding on urban roads and over a quarter (27%) were speeding on rural roads. This National Slow Down Day, and indeed every day, please remember the faster you drive, the more likely you are to crash which could result in death or serious injury. Slow down – drive at a speed that is appropriate to the conditions and your experience and remember a speed limit is not a target," he said.