It’s time to slow down on the roads.
Gardaí will conduct a national speed enforcement operation for a 24-hour period from 7am on Friday, 20 October until 7am on Saturday, 21 October.
The objective behind the operation is to reduce the number of speed-related collisions on Irish roads, increase compliance with speed limits and act as a deterrent to driving at excessive or inappropriate speed.
‘National Slow Down Day’ hopes to remind drivers of the dangers that speeding can cause and coincides with Storm Brian this weekend, when drivers are being told to adjust their speed to all prevailing conditions.
There was a marked increase in road deaths in 2016 (187) and although there have been fewer road deaths this year compared to the same period last year, Gardaí want to remind motorists that excessive and inappropriate speed is a major contributory factor in road traffic collisions.
It was further confirmed by the recent RSA report on fatal collisions between 2008 and 2012, which found that excessive speed was a contributory factor in one-third of all fatal collisions during that time.
Chief Superintendent Finbarr Murphy of the Roads Policing Bureau said: “We appeal to drivers to work with us and play their part in reducing injury and tragedy on the road, by supporting our National Slow Down day. Please stick strictly to the posted speed limit, but if the road, traffic or especially weather conditions dictate, reduce your speed even further. This will make the journey safer not only for you, but for every road user sharing the road with you.”
The operation will consist of high visibility speed enforcement in speed enforcement zones and Gardai personnel will man display stands in key venues to provide road safety advice and distribute road safety leaflets.
The following are some of the locations where speed enforcement is scheduled to be carried out from 7am on Friday 20 October.
• N5 Claggarnagh East, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
• R712 Pennefatherslot, Co. Kilkenny
• R551 Blackparks Ballybunion, Co. Kerry
• R436 Leabeg Ballycumber, Co. Offaly
• R334 Cahernichole East, The Neale, Co. Mayo
• N4 Lackan Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford
• N3 Edenburt Virginia, Co. Cavan
• N2 Reaghstown Ardee, Co. Louth
• R446 Ballyeighter, Aughrim, Co. Galway
• N11 Clauass, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
• N13 Lisfannan Bridge End, Co. Donegal
• R419 Kilbride, Portarlington, Co. Laois
• N5 Portaghard Frenchpark, Co. Roscommon
• N68 Knockalough Kilmihil, Co. Clare
• R561 Kilnanare Firies, Co. Kerry
• N25 Coolcots, Co. Wexford
• M7 Osberstown Naas, Co. Kildare
• N7 Kill West, Kill, Co. Kildare
• N20 Rathgoggan South Charleville, Co. Cork
• R586 Caherogullane, Bantry, Co. Cork
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