Laois motorist caught doing 110kph in an 80 zone during National Slow Down Day

A motorist was caught speeding at 110kph in an 80kmh on the R445 in Portlaoise during National Slow Down Day.  

Gardaí across Laois are out in force conducting speed checks for the operation which began at midnight. 

The speed checks are taking place as part of National Slow Down Day - a 24 hour enforcement operation being conducted in association with the Road Safety Authority(RSA) which began at midnight.  

This will be the second National Slow Down Day of the year, and gardaí are asking the public to support the initiative by slowing down.

“As spring arrives in Ireland and there is a longer period of daylight, we can expect an increase in vulnerable road users, pedestrians and cyclists with more people out and about.

While gardaí work tirelessly 365 days of the year to help people safe on Ireland’s road network, they alone cannot prevent all fatal road traffic collisions – An Garda Síochána needs everyone’s help and support,” gardaí said. 

“This is a conversation that should be had regularly with friends, family and colleagues, and should not only take place in the aftermath of fatal road traffic collision when it is too late.

Speeding while driving is one of the most dangerous driving practices there are because the faster the speed the more severe the impact and the much deadlier the consequences.”

In its first update on National Slow Down Day, gardaí said 125 motorists were detected speeding.

They included  144km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the N11 in Newcastle, Co Wicklow,  84km/h in a 60km/h zone in Ashbourne, Co Meath, 110km/h in a 80km/h zone on the R445 in Portlaoise, Co Laois, 141km/h in 100km/h zone on the N67 in Co Galway and 153km/h in 120km/h zone on the M7 in Nenagh, Co Tipperary.

Statistically, one in ten pedestrians hit by car travelling at 30km/h will die of their injuries. Five in ten of those out walking and struck by a car travelling 50km/h will be killed, and a car being driven at 60km/h and hits a pedestrian has a nine in ten chance of the collision being fatal.

Already this year, more than 32,880 fines have been issued to motorists for speeding - that’s over 335 people every day.

Gardaí say it is important that motorists realise that no matter how good the road and weather conditions are, any increase in speed increases a driver’s likelihood of being involved in a serious or fatal road traffic collision.

“Driving at a speed that is not appropriate if the prevailing weather, traffic and/or condition of the road is as dangerous as exceeding the speed limit,” they said. 

Chief Superintendent in the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau, Jane Humphries said, "National Slow Down Day is not about catching motorists speeding, in fact we would much prefer to not detect anyone breaking the speed limit.”

"Our 24-hour targeted initiative is aimed at getting people to talk about their driving behaviour. To be more mindful of it and the risks that they may take when behind the wheel. We are asking that you chat to family, friends, colleague’s even neighbours – please remind them to slow down, drive safely and without distraction.

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"No one likes to ever consider that when they get behind the wheel of a car to take a journey, that they very well may not make it there. There is every possibility if you are speeding that you won’t.”

Director of Partnerships and External Affairs at the Road Safety Authority, Sarah O’Connor said: "There is clear scientific evidence showing that speed directly affects the likelihood and severity of collisions. Lower speeds give drivers more time to react to unexpected hazards, reducing the chance of a collision, and they significantly reduce injury severity, as the force of a collision increases exponentially with speed.”