Gardai to crackdown on speeding
Gardai will mount an intensive crackdown on speeding as part of national ‘Slow Down’ day this Friday and Saturday.
The national ‘Slow Down’ day, is supported by the Road Safety Authority and other stakeholders. The intensive high visibility crackdown will run for 24 hours from 7am on Friday to 7am on Saturday morning.
The objective of operation “Slow Down” is to reduce the number of speed related collisions, save lives and reduce injuries on our roads. Gardai want to remind drivers of the dangers of speeding, increase compliance with speed limits and act as a deterrent to excessive and inappropriate speed.
A total of 190 people died on Ireland's roads last year. Speeding is a major contributory factor to road traffic collisions. The higher the speed, the greater the likelihood is of a collision happening and the more severe the outcome of that collision.
As a general rule, gardai say a one percent reduction in average speed will bring about a four percent reduction in fatal collisions, and this is why reducing motorists’ speed is essential to improving road safety.
Public and private sector fleet operators have been invited to participate in the initiative by circulating employees with the key message to “Slow Down” and, whether driving for business or private purposes, to always drive within the speed limit and at a speed appropriate to the prevailing conditions.
The operation will consist of high visibility speed enforcement activities on both national primary and secondary roads. All speed enforcement technologies will be utilised, including all laser handheld speed detection devices, ROBOT vans and Cleartone/Puma in-car speed detection systems. GoSafe vehicles will be deployed on the day in speed enforcement zones which provide maximum visibility.
In addition to enforcement, the Garda website and in particular social media sites will be actively used to promote this initiative. Gardai said the public can play their part by both showing support via the Garda Facebook page but also reducing speed.
Chief Superintendent Mark Curran of the Garda National Traffic Bureau said: “We want to reduce the number of speed related collisions, save lives and reduce injuries on our roads. We appeal to drivers to treat the speed limit as the absolute maximum they will travel at or slow down when road, weather or traffic conditions dictate. It sounds a very simple ask – but we also know that approximately 80% of our speeding detections are between 10-29km/h over the posted limit, with nearly half occurring in 50km/h zones.”
”Excessive or inappropriate speed causes death and injury on our roads, and remains the primary contributory cause of road traffic collisions. Slowing down keeps you and others around you safe on our roads, and although this is a targeted 24 hour operation, we appeal to drivers to always abide by this advice – slow down, save lives,” Chief Supt Curran concluded.