Gardaí are urging drivers to obey speed limits to reduce the number of speed-related collisions, save lives and reduce injuries on Ireland's roads.
A national speed enforcement operation "Slow Down", supported by a Garda Síochána Road Safety Authority (RSA) and other partners, will be carried out over a 24-hour period from 7am on March 1 until 7am tomorrow.
𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗦𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗗𝗔𝗬 🚗
National slow down day takes place from 7AM Tuesday 28th of February to 7AM Wednesday 1st March, an Garda Siochana will be doing speed checks all around the country. Please slow down and reduce your speed this 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗦𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗗𝗔𝗬 🤍🚗
The purpose of "Slow Down Day" is to remind drivers of the dangers of speeding, increase compliance with speed limits, and prevent excessive or inappropriate speeding. The overall goal is to reduce the number of speed-related collisions. Save lives and reduce injuries on the roads.
At this time of year, in late winter, it is important to remind drivers that when road conditions begin to improve, driver behaviour may change accordingly. Any increase in speed contributes significantly to the severity of any road traffic collision.
Road traffic accidents increased last year with 156 people fatally injured, the highest death toll on the roads since 2016. January this year had the highest number of road traffic deaths in 10 years (20 deaths.)
Recent Garda enforcement data and RSA research demonstrate that drivers continue to speed. In 2022, 73% of fatal collisions occurred on rural roads (80km/h or more) and 27% on urban roads. It is estimated that 30% of fatal collisions are the result of excessive speed or improper speed.
Garda National Roads Policing Bureau Chief Superintendent Jane Humphreys said: “It is important to thank all drivers who do the right thing and drive not only within the required speed limit but also at the appropriate speed for the conditions.
"However, every day across the country we continue to find drivers exceeding the speed limit. We know that reducing the average speed can lead to a reduction in fatal collisions, so improving driver speed reduction is essential.
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