Gardaí will be out in force pulling for speed this week

There will be a particular focus on rural roads.

An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) are urging motorists to reduce their speed and be mindful of vulnerable road users ahead of ‘Slow Down Day’. The 24-hour national speed enforcement operation will be in effect from 7am on Thursday, 21 October until 7am on Friday, 22 October. Gardaí have said the aim of the operation is to remind drivers of the dangers of speeding, to increase compliance with speed limits and act as a deterrent to driving at excessive or inappropriate speed. It's part of a campaign to reduce the number of speed-related collisions and deaths on Irish roads. While Gardaí say they will be focusing the enforcement activity across all speed limit zones, there will be a particular focus on rural roads. "It is important to thank all of those drivers who do the right thing and drive not only within the necessary speed limits, but at speeds that are appropriate to the conditions," Superintendent Thomas Murphy, Garda National Roads Policing Bureau at An Garda Síochána said. "However, there are some drivers who ignore our speed limits and put themselves and others at risk. This is especially true on rural roads which are often narrow, and where bends and corners restrict a driver’s vision. "There are no margins for error on these roads which is why drivers need to slow down when using them. We are asking all drivers to support our National ‘Slow Down’ Day not just on ‘Slow Down Day’ but every day. If we all slow down a little, we can make a big difference. "A 1% reduction in average speed will bring about a 4% reduction in fatal collisions, and therefore reducing motorists’ speed is essential to improving road safety.” Main image via Eamonn Farrell / RollingNews.ie