A reminder and warning that an Garda Síochána will be out in force today, running vehicle speed checks as part of their national “Slow Down Day” initiative.
The 24-hour operation began at 7.00am this morning right across the Irish Republic, with more than 1,000 separate speed checks expected to be set in motion.
During this day in 2016, Gardaí detected over 1,000 breaches of the law in relation to speed limits and were called to attend over 114 traffic collisions; with many classed as serious and one resulting in a tragic fatality.
Garda personnel this year, as part of a motorist education drive, will be providing road safety advice and handing out road safety leaflets, at identified busy locations. Same will highlight that nationally road deaths in 2016 showed a marked increase in fatalities, with most of the 188 road deaths linked to speed.
Statistically a 1% reduction in average driving speed will results in a 4% reduction in fatal collisions. A total of 61 people have lost their lives in crashes so far this year. Same figure represents a decrease of 12 persons compared with this time last year.
BADLY NEEDED