Gardaí carried out slow down operation
A motorist was caught driving at nearly double the speed limit on Skehard Road during An Garda Síochána’s national speed enforcement operation Slow Down Day.
The operation began on 7am on Tuesday and lasted for 24 hours. One driver was recorded travelling at 89km/h in a 50km/h zone on Skehard Road in Cork city while another was caught speeding a 118km/h in a 100km/h zone on the M8 Riverstown, Glanmire.
A driver was recorded travelling at 72km/h in a 50km/h zone on the R600 Ballindeenisk, Belgooly, another at 70km/h in a 50km/h zone on the Church Road, Carrigaline and one at 70km/h in a 50km/h zone on the L2211 Coolroe, Ballincollig.
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. The overall objective was to reduce the number of speed related collisions, save lives and reduce injuries on our roads.
Excessive and inappropriate speed is a major contributory factor in road traffic collisions, confirmed by an RSA report on fatal collisions between 2008 and 2012 which found that excessive speed was a contributory factor in almost one third of all fatal collisions during that time. The higher the speed, the greater the likelihood is of a collision happening and the more severe the outcome of that collision.
Speaking after the operation, Chief Superintendent Michael Hennebry, Garda National Roads Policing Bureau, said: “I want to once again thank the vast ajority of drivers who drive safely within the speed limits. Unfortunately we have yet again seen during our Slow Down campaign, that there are still a minority of drivers who choose to ignore the legal speed limits and public warnings. We will continue to focus on those non-compliant drivers who drive in excess of the speed limit, posing a significant risk to themselves and other road users.
“Please remember that each time a driver exceeds a speed limit it could result in a serious injury or fatal collision. Please continue to support our efforts to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries.”