80% of motorway speeders top 141km/h
Statistics obtained by the Irish Examiner for 2007 show drivers caught speeding across different speed zones were dangerously exceeding limits.
Figures reveal that on city and town streets, on national and regional roads as well as on motorways, nearly three quarters of drivers speeding were racing at 20km/h or more above limits.
Drivers racing at the treacherous speeds were clocked by gardaí in 50, 60, 80, 100 and 120km/h zones.
The speeding statistics were discouraging, road safety chiefs conceded last night.
“Speed is the single biggest factor for road deaths in Ireland,” said the Road Safety Authority’s Noel Brett.
The RSA chief said the speeding figures were “hugely disappointing” and “illustrate the need for robust action on speed and enforcement in this country”.
More than 198,000 motorists were caught speeding on Irish roads last year.
The largest category of speeders were those breaking limits in housing estates, on streets and ordinary small roads, in 50km/h zones.
Up to 48,836 motorists were caught breaking limits by 20km/h, reaching speeds of 70km/h or more on the urban and town roads.
In the same zone, drivers breaking the limit by only a few kilometres were clocked by gardaí in just 213 cases.
The breaches of speed limits uncovered by the Irish Examiner reveal the treacherous risks drivers are willing to take to finish journeys faster.
Dangers to their safety and other drivers’ will be highlighted this year as gardaí turn their attention to speeders following the successful clampdown on drink drivers last year.
The decision to park plans for a privatised speed camera system are being countered by increased numbers of fixed Gatso cameras for routes nationwide.
Road safety campaigns in schools will also be boosted with videos showing personal tales of teenagers seriously hurt in crashes in a bid to alert youngsters about the consequences of dangerous driving.
