A speed enforcement operation is underway nationwide today for ‘National Slow Down Day’.
Gardaí and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and other stakeholders are carrying out the operation over a 24 hour period from 7am on Tuesday 28th February to 7am on Wednesday 1st March 2023.
Earlier this morning a vehicle was caught speeding at 113km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the N15 at Drumnagahan outside Donegal Town.
The aim of “Slow Down Day” 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. The overall objective is 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 our roads since 2016. January of this year had the highest number of Road Traffic Fatalities of any January in 10 years, with 20 fatalities.
It has been estimated that 30% of fatal collisions are the result of speeding or inappropriate speed. Gardaí say it’s important to remind drivers at this time of year, the end of the winter period, when road conditions begin to improve and driver behaviour can change in line with that. Any increase in speed contributes significantly to the severity of any road traffic collision.