More than 800 drivers caught speeding during National Slow Down Day

MORE than 800 drivers are to receive fines and penalty points after they were caught speeding during a major garda clampdown.

During Operation Slow Down, which ran from 7am on Monday to 7am on Tuesday,  the speed of more than 150,000 vehicles was checked with 865 found to be driving in excess of the limit.

"Each of these 865 drivers will now receive a €160 Fixed Charge Notice in the post and have 3 penalty points applied to their driving licences," said a garda spokesperson.

In an update, issued this Tuesday afternoon, gardai have highlighted some of the detections which were made across the country. 

These include a motorist travelling at 163km/h in a 120km/h zone on the M9 at Moanmore Muine Bheag, Carlow; a motorist travelling at 161km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N53 at Philipstown, Dundalk, County Louth; a motorist travelling at 121km/h in a 80km/h Zone on the N2 at Drumcaw, Monaghan and a motorist travelling at 99km/h in a 60km/h zone on the R267 at  Magheracar,  Bundoran County Donegal.

During the 24 hour period of Slow Down Day, 865 drivers were detected speeding by Gardaí and GoSafe vans.

Some speeds detected include:
- 79km/h in a 50km/h Zone
- 73km/h in a 50km/h Zone
- 99km/h in a 60km/h Zone
- 77km/h in a 60km/h Zone#SlowDown pic.twitter.com/ki5ndjxLsA

— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) September 5, 2023

Gardai say the aim of "Slow Down day” was 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.
 
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 Irish roads.