An Garda Síochána will conduct a 24-hour speed enforcement operation nationwide from 7:00a.m tomorrow (Friday, December 20) in partnership with the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
Tomorrow is the final National Slow Down Day of the year and as thousands of people take to Irish roads this weekend to make the journey home for Christmas, An Garda Síochána is asking the public to please support tomorrow’s initiative by slowing down.
Additional traffic can be expected on the roads from tomorrow and so too is an increase in vulnerable road users, pedestrians and cyclists with more people out and about shopping, running errands and catching up with friends and family, according to gardaí.
In advance of tomorrow’s National Slow Down Day, gardaí are asking people to have a conversation with those around you about speed, driving safely and helping to make sure everyone using Irish roads arrives home this Christmas.
Gardaí have said that 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.
National Slow Down Day
Speeding while driving is one of the most dangerous driving practices there is because the faster the speed, the more severe the impact and the much deadlier the consequences, according to gardaí.
Statistically, one in 10 pedestrians hit by car travelling at 30km/h will die of their injuries. Five in 10 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 10 chance of the collision being fatal.
Already this year, more than 150,000 Fixed Charge Notices (FCNs) have been issued to motorists for speeding – that’s 475 people every day.
Driving at a speed that is not appropriate for the prevailing weather, traffic and/or condition of the road is as dangerous as exceeding the speed limit, gardaí added.
Chief superintendent in the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau, Jane Humphries said: “Thousands of you will begin making your journey home from tomorrow and while gardaí will be out working to keep road users safe, we need your help. We need you to slow down and drive safely.
“National Slow Down Day is aimed at getting people to talk about and be more mindful of their driving behaviour and the risks that they may take when behind the wheel.
“No one sets out driving thinking that they won’t make it to their destination but there is every chance if you are speeding that you won’t. We need you to help us, help you to get home safely for Christmas.”
Chief executive of the RSA, Sam Waide added: “It is clear speeding continues to play a significant role in fatal collisions on Irish roads.
“Self-report speeding behaviours and acceptability of speeding have been consistently high since 2020 and have yet to return to pre-Covid levels.
“In addition, our most recent analysis of coronial data for driver deaths found that 26% of drivers with a record of their actions available were exceeding a safe speed in the lead-up to the fatal crash.”