National Slow Down Day 2018: Gardai to conduct crackdown on speeding motorists over 24 hours

Gardai will conduct a special crackdown on speeding motorists as part of National Slow Down Day this week.

The 24-hour road safety initiative will take place from 7am on Friday, October 19 to 7am on Saturday, October 20.

An Garda Siochana and the Road Safety Authority said the aim is to remind drivers of the dangers of speeding, increase compliance with speed limits and act as a deterrent.

The penalty for speeding is three penalty points and an €80 euro fine if paid within 28 days.

An interactive map of safety camera locations can be viewed here.

There were 157 road deaths in 2017, the lowest on record, gardai said - but added that it "is still 157 road deaths too many".

A statement read: "We can never be complacent about road safety.

"Excessive and inappropriate speed is a major contributory factor in road traffic collisions, further confirmed by the recent RSA report on fatal collisions between 2008 and 2012 which found that excessive speed was a contributory factor in 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.

"As a general rule a 1% reduction in average speed will bring about a 4% reduction in fatal collisions, and this is why reducing motorists’ speed is essential to improving road safety."

Chief Superintendent Finbarr Murphy of the Roads Policing Bureau said: "National Slow Down day is about making our roads and our communities safer.

"When someone decides to speed they put members of their community at risk, including children, older people, cyclists and other motorists. Nobody has the right to do that.

"We have been running the 'Slow Down' safety initiative since 2012 and every time the vast majority of drivers support it by sticking to the speed limit so firstly, I would like to thank all drivers who help us keep the roads safe.

"Unfortunately, there are still hundreds who do not, and travel in excess of the speed limit – some significantly so. We cannot emphasise enough how much risk this is causing to themselves and others.

"Each one of these speeding incidents could potentially cause a serious or even fatal road traffic collision.

"Please do the right thing and stick to all posted speed limits, not just on Slow Down day, but every day and if conditions dictate, reduce speed even further.

"There is a massive amount of advance notice via print, broadcast and social media for safety initiatives such as this.

"There are drivers who see and hear this but choose not to drive safely.

"Please don’t be one of the drivers detected speeding on Slow Down day or any other day, and choose to keep yourself and others safe on the road.

Moyagh Murdock, Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority, said: "I would urge all drivers to show their support for National 'Slow Down' Day and every day by easing off on the accelerator.

"Inappropriate speed is a factor in a third of fatal crashes each year and those most at risk from speeding are vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists.

"Initiatives such as this are very important as we head into the winter months, when the weather deteriorates and roads are more likely to be wet.

"This means increased stopping distances when braking, so slow down and leave a greater distance between you and the vehicle in front.

"It’s also vital that your tyres are roadworthy. Remember brakes stop your wheels, but it’s your tyres that stop your car.

"The gardai and the RSA have gone to great lengths to tell people about this safety drive and that’s because it’s about stopping people from speeding not catching people speeding.

"I appeal to all drivers to slow down and save lives on National ‘Slow Down’ Day."

The operation will consist of high visibility speed enforcement in speed enforcement zones, which now number over 1,000, as well as the delivery of a road safety message through the use of national, local and social media.

Government Departments, Local Authorities, Public and private sector fleet operators have been invited to participate in the initiative by circulating employees with the key message to "Slow Down” and, whether driving for business or private purposes, to always drive within the speed limit and at a speed appropriate to the prevailing conditions.