Kildare Drivers Urged To Slow Down On National Slow Down Day

Friday, 21 April 2023 09:33

By Caoimhe Harney

Gardaí have begun the operation which will last 24 hours

National Slow Down Day is now underway on the country's roads.

Gardai will be out in force until 7 o'clock tomorrow morning, checking for drivers who are speeding.

The number of lives lost on the roads increased last year, to 157 deaths, the highest number recorded since 2016.

So far this year there have been 52 deaths on our roads.

It's estimated 30 per cent of road deaths are a direct result of speeding.

In the first 2 hours of National Slow Down Day, GoSafe checked the speed of 19,795 vehicles and detected 26 vehicles travelling in excess of the applicable speed limit.

Examples of high speeds include:

• 63km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the Main Street Newtownforbes Longford
• 63km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the Clogher Road Dublin12 Dublin
• 87km/h in a 60km/h Zone on the R267 Portnason Ballyshannon Donegal
• 85km/h in a 60km/h Zone on the Clones Road Monaghan Monaghan
• 78km/h in a 60km/h Zone on the R188 Doocassan Drung Cavan
• 74km/h in a 60km/h Zone on the Rathdown Road Greystones Wicklow
• 121km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the N11 Mt Kennedy Demesne Newtownmountkennedy Wicklow
• 138km/h in a 120km/h Zone on the M6 Killavally Tyrrellspass Westmeath
• 137km/h in a 120km/h Zone on the M18 Ballyconneely Newmarket On Fergus Clare

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.