Motorists urged to reduce speed on rural roads

Speeding detected in Mountbellew as part of ‘Slow Down’ day

SEVERAL speeding motorists on Galway’s roads have already been stopped by Gardai this morning as part of the national ‘Slow Down’ day.

The operation runs from 7am today March 1 until 7am on March 2 and will consist of high visibility speed enforcement in 1322 speed enforcement zones around the country.

Between 7-9am today An Garda Síochána and GoSafe checked the speed of 24,922 vehicles and detected 123 vehicles travelling in excess of the applicable speed limit. These included a motorist travelling at 78kph in a 60kph on the N63 in Mountbellew.

An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to drivers to increase compliance with speed limits in order to reduce the number of speed related collisions, save lives and reduce injuries on our roads.

Chief Superintendent Michael Hennebry Garda National Roads Policing Bureau said: “I’m appealing to all road users to support us in our efforts to keep everybody safe on our roads. Please slow down, check your speed, drive safely, not only on National Slow Down Day, but every day."

Rural roads have seen many motorists exceed the speed limits and putting lives in danger, according to Sam Waide, CEO, Road Safety Authority.

"The RSA’s Free Speed observational study found that half of all drivers (52%) were observed speeding on urban roads and over a quarter (27%) were speeding on rural roads. This National Slow Down Day, and indeed every day, please remember the faster you drive, the more likely you are to crash which could result in death or serious injury. Slow down – drive at a speed that is appropriate to the conditions and your experience and remember a speed limit is not a target.”