GARDAI URGE MOTORISTS TO TAKE PART IN #SLOWDOWNDAY TOMORROW
Primary schools competition also launched as part of initiative.
Motorists across the country are being urged by the Gardaí to play their part in ‘National Slow Down Day’ which takes place tomorrow.
The initiative will see An Garda Síochána conduct a major speed enforcement operation all across the country in a bid to reduce speed-related collisions and injuries.
Gardaí are warning motorists to slow down and not to speed on the roads tomorrow.
Slow Down Day will run from 7am on Friday until 7am on Saturday, and consist of high-visibility Garda activities in all 1,031 speed enforcement zones. Updates will be available throughout the day using #slowdownday.
Speaking in advance of Slow Down Day, Chief Superintendent Aidan Reid of the Roads Policing Bureau said: "The aim of Slow Down Day is to remind motorists the dangers of speeding, to increase compliance with speed limits and to deter them from driving at excessive speeds. We will be activating a major speed enforcement operation in counties across Ireland tomorrow and as part of this we are urging all road users to join us in reducing speed and making our roads safe.
"There has been a significant increase in road deaths this year compared to 2015 and unfortunately, excessive speed is a major contributory factor in the majority these. This is not just a catchphrase, but a stark fact proven by the analysis of four years of fatal collision reports. The higher the speed, the greater the likelihood of a collision happen and the more severe outcome of that collision. Recognising this fact will not only protect you, but all those who share the road with you. It is everyone’s responsibility to act safe.
"As a general rule, a 1% reduction in average speed will bring about a 4% reduction in fatal collisions. With this in mind, we are urging every road user to please play their part in reducing speed and risk on the roads tomorrow. Of course, this is a message we would advise people to heed every day of the year, not just Slow Down Day.”
Gardaí have also launched a nationwide primary school competition as part of the initiative, in which young pupils are being urged to ‘name the newest Garda member’. It will run until the end of October and more information can be found on the Garda Facebook page.
Superintendent Reid added "All primary schoolchildren have been notified of a competition to win a visit by the Garda band to their school by creating their own road safety poster, poem or song. They are also being asked to name the newest Garda member, suggestions for which are already available to see on our Facebook page.
Already we have had some fantastic submissions, from Garda CopOn McSlowdown to Garda Dee Celerate to Garda Teddy McSteady. Keep them coming!” See more examples by clicking here - https://www.facebook.com/angardasiochana/
Schoolchildren are also being encouraged as part of Slow Down Day to engage with Gardaí online by posing questions through the @gardatraffic twitter page and An Garda Síochána Facebook.
The ‘slow down’ message will also be promoted by Gardaí tomorrow through a public awareness campaign involving national, local and social media. In addition, Garda personnel will be out and about in their local communities tomorrow sharing advice on road safety and good road behaviour with local people.
National Slow Down Day is a joint initiative of An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority and various stakeholders.
Supt. Reid will be available for interviews tomorrow between 10am and 12pm, email pressoffice@garda.ie to arrange same.
Note:
See below fresh data outlining the top speeds detected per county over the past 7 days. Speeds of note include:
• 100km/h limit: Highest speed over the past 7 days was 190 km/h on the N15 Cloghfin Castlefinn Donegal with a similar speed on the N52 Gorteen Mullingar Westmeath
• 80 km/h limit: Highest speed was 149 km/h on an 80km/h zone - R733 Tracystown East Cleariestown Wexford
• 60 km/h limit: Highest speed was 107km/h in a 60km/h zone on the N81 Glenaraneen Brittas Dublin
• 50 km/h limit: Highest speed was 101 km/h on the R448 Kilcullenbridge Kilcullen Kildare
| | 50 km/h zone |
County | | Highest Speed | Location |
Carlow | | No Detection | No Detection |
Cavan | | No Detection | No Detection |
Clare | | 61 | R462 Gortnacorragh Kilkishen Clare |
Cork | | 74 | R619 Nadrid Coachford Cork |
Donegal | | 80 | R245 Umlagh Carrigart Donegal |
Dublin | | 91 | Balbutcher Lane Ballymun Dublin11 Dublin |
Galway | | 75 | N66 Cuscarrick Loughrea Galway |
Kerry | | 79 | R561 Ballinvarrig Firies Kerry |
Kildare | | 101 | R448 Kilcullenbridge Kilcullen Kildare |
Kilkenny | | 74 | R448 Ballyhale Ballyhale Kilkenny |
Laois | | 63 | N77 Knocknamoe Abbeyleix Laois |
Leitrim | | 67 | R280 Laghta Kinlough Leitrim |
Limerick | | 88 | N21 Abbeyfeale East Abbeyfeale Limerick |
Longford | | No Detection | No Detection |
Louth | | 92 | R177 Carrickedmond Dundalk Louth |
Mayo | | No Detection | No Detection |
Meath | | No Detection | No Detection |
Monaghan | | No Detection | No Detection |
Offaly | | 89 | N62 Drumbane Birr Offaly |
Roscommon | | No Detection | No Detection |
Sligo | | 84 | N17 Ballynacarrow South Ballinacarrow Sligo |
Tipperary | | 76 | R661 Garryduff West Dundrum Tipperary |
Waterford | | 85 | R711 Dock Road Waterford Waterford |
Westmeath | | No Detection | No Detection |
Wexford | | 72 | N80 Newtownbarry Bunclody Wexford |
Wicklow | | 67 | N81 Stratford Lodge Baltinglass Wicklow |
| | 60 km/h zone |
County | | Highest Speed | Location |
Carlow | | No Detection | No Detection |
Cavan | | 85 | R188 Doocassan Drung Cavan |
Clare | | 82 | R463 Gortatogher Ardnacrusha Clare |
Cork | | 96 | R586 Murragh Enniskeane Cork |
Donegal | | 90 | R267 Magheracar Bundoran Donegal |
Dublin | | 107 | N81 Glenaraneen Brittas Dublin |
Galway | | 71 | R336 Na Haille An Lochán Beag Gaillimh |
Kerry | | 92 | N69 Billeragh Listowel Kerry |
Kildare | | 80 | R401 Curragh Newbridge Kildare |
Kilkenny | | 93 | N76 Margarets Field Kilkenny Kilkenny |
Laois | | 95 | R422 Townparks Mountmellick Laois |
Leitrim | | No Detection | No Detection |
Limerick | | 83 | R445 Newcastle Annacotty Limerick |
Longford | | No Detection | No Detection |
Louth | | No Detection | No Detection |
Mayo | | 74 | N5 Lowpark Charlestown Mayo |
Meath | | 73 | R125 Greenoge Ashbourne Meath |
Monaghan | | 77 | N54 Cornecassa Demesne Monaghan Monaghan |
Offaly | | No Detection | No Detection |
Roscommon | | 86 | R362 Monksland Athlone Roscommon |
Sligo | | No Detection | No Detection |
Tipperary | | No Detection | No Detection |
Waterford | | No Detection | No Detection |
Westmeath | | No Detection | No Detection |
Wexford | | 91 | R772 Ballaghboy Gorey Wexford |
Wicklow | | 85 | R772 Kiladreenan Newtownmountkennedy Wicklow |
| | 80 km/h zone |
County | | Highest Speed | Location |
Carlow | | 92 | R702 Rathgeran Borris Carlow |
Cavan | | No Detection | No Detection |
Clare | | 115 | R352 Caherloghan Tulla Clare |
Cork | | 99 | R630 Loughatalia Midleton Cork |
Donegal | | 117 | R250 Rashedoge Letterkenny Donegal |
Dublin | | 107 | R125 Rathbeale Road Swords Dublin |
Galway | | 104 | R446 Oatfield Cappataggle Galway |
Kerry | | 120 | R551 Liscahane Ardfert Kerry |
Kildare | | 118 | R448 Inchaquire Athy Kildare |
Kilkenny | | 110 | R693 Clashacrow Freshford Kilkenny |
Laois | | 112 | R419 Kilbride Portarlington Laois |
Leitrim | | 93 | R280 Drumheckil Carrick-On-Shannon Leitrim |
Limerick | | 102 | R513 Ballynamona Hospital Limerick |
Longford | | 123 | R397 Knockagowny Longford Longford |
Louth | | 107 | R166 Castlebellingham Castlebellingham Louth |
Mayo | | 121 | R314 Rathroeen Ballina Mayo |
Meath | | 128 | R132 Gormanston Julianstown Meath |
Monaghan | | 104 | R188 Fairfield Demesne Rockcorry Monaghan |
Offaly | | 104 | R420 Clonyquin Portarlington Offaly |
Roscommon | | 122 | R371 Ballyleague Lanesborough Roscommon |
Sligo | | No Detection | No Detection |
Tipperary | | 113 | N24 Bohercrow Tipperary Tipperary |
Waterford | | 96 | R666 Gairha Ballyduff Waterford |
Westmeath | | 91 | R446 Corcloon Milltownpass Westmeath |
Wexford | | 149 | R733 Tracystown East Cleariestown Wexford |
Wicklow | | 130 | R753 Tinnakilly Upper Aughrim Wicklow |
| | 100 km/h zone |
County | | Highest Speed | Location |
Carlow | | 140 | R448 Wells Royal Oak Carlow |
Cavan | | 125 | N3 Daggan Cavan Cavan |
Clare | | 116 | N18 Cratloekeel Cratloe Clare |
Cork | | 134 | N20 Ballymartin Blarney Cork |
Donegal | | 190 | N15 Cloghfin Castlefinn Donegal |
Dublin | | 159 | N3 Huntstown Dublin15 Dublin |
Galway | | 121 | N83 Ballymoney South Dunmore Galway |
Kerry | | 128 | N21 Ballydwyer West Tralee Kerry |
Kildare | | 110 | N78 Burtown Little Burtown Kildare |
Kilkenny | | 128 | R712 Blanchvillespark Clifden Kilkenny |
Laois | | 117 | N77 Colt Abbeyleix Laois |
Leitrim | | No Detection | No Detection |
Limerick | | 161 | N24 Whitehall Limerick Limerick |
Longford | | 137 | N4 Lackan Edgeworthstown Longford |
Louth | | 131 | N52 Ballybailie Ardee Louth |
Mayo | | 137 | N17 Castlemagarret North Claremorris Mayo |
Meath | | No Detection | No Detection |
Monaghan | | 135 | N53 Annadrumman Castleblayney Monaghan |
Offaly | | 122 | N62 Ballylin Ferbane Offaly |
Roscommon | | 132 | R446 Beagh (Trench) Ballinasloe Roscommon |
Sligo | | 132 | N4 Knoxspark Ballisodare Sligo |
Tipperary | | 158 | N52 Grange Upper Nenagh Tipperary |
Waterford | | 126 | N25 Parkeennaglogh Kilmacthomas Waterford |
Westmeath | | 190 | N52 Gorteen Mullingar Westmeath |
Wexford | | 129 | N11 Edermine Enniscorthy Wexford |
Wicklow | | 134 | N11 Kilcroney Bray Wicklow |
