Drivers caught over twice speed limit on National Slowdown Day

Drivers travelling at well over twice the speed limit were among more than 1,000 caught speeding on National Slowdown Day.

One vehicle was clocked at 139km/h on a 60km/h stretch of the Dublin Road in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow.

Another was reported as driving at 119km/h in a 50km/h zone on the Drummartin Link Road, in Dublin.

An Garda Siochana and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) ran the national speed enforcement operation for the full 24 hours of December 23.

Gardai using GoSafe mobile and static safety cameras detected 1,038 drivers over the speed limit, of whom 377 were intercepted.

In Crossabeg, Co Wexford, one was travelling at 156km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the N11.

At Killavally, Tyrrellspass, Co Westmeath another was travelling at 163km/h on a 120km/h stretch of the M6

Other vehicles were found to be over 120km/h in 80km/h zones on the R478 in Liscannor, Co Clare, and on the N52 in Mounthenry, Birr, Co Offaly.

Gardai said the initiative is to “promote safer driving and reduce speed-related collisions nationwide, coinciding with increased road use for Christmas holidays”.