Operation Slow Down highlights safer road use

Just 154 out of the 75,000 motorists monitored were pulled over for speeding during the Garda Operation Slow Down last weekend.

Gardaí said although it was too early to have the full picture on what was learned from the operation, it was clear to those involved that a change in the driving habits of the public was evident.

According to the data gathered, more than 75,000 vehicles were monitored by the GoSafe safety camera vans over the 24-hour period. Out of this number, 154 motorists were detected speeding.

This figure is significantly less than would be expected for a similar period — where there would be typically in the region of 300 detections.

The data gathered also showed changes in driver behaviour in safety camera zones.

This has resulted in the percentage of road fatalities in zones dropping from an average of 31% during the years prior to the project commencing, to a figure of 18% in 2011.

More than half of the two- to three-hour monitoring periods ended with no speeding detections.

Typically five to six are encountered during each session.

Assistant commissioner for traffic John O’Mahoney thanked the public for supporting Operation Slow Down.

“I would like to thank the public for embracing the operation, and I urge people to continue to drive within the speed limit and at a speed suitable to the conditions.

“All reductions in speed help lower the numbers of collisions thereby saving lives,” he said.

However, Mr O’Mahoney pointed out that, despite the widespread publicity and extensive advertising carried out by the Road Safety Authority with the cooperation of other organisations, some drivers have failed to change their driving behaviour.

Mr O’Mahoney called on those drivers to slow down and said continued garda monitoring and detection since last weekend clearly demonstrates that some drivers continue to put themselves and other road users at risk.