Nearly 1,000 motorists caught for speeding during National Slow Down Day

In total, gardaí and GoSafe checked the speeds of over 150,605 vehicles around the country. Picture: Garda Info/Twitter

Almost 1,000 motorists were caught travelling over the speed limit during National Slow Down Day yesterday. 

A national Garda operation to coincide with the event began at 7am yesterday morning and continued until 7am this morning.

In total, gardaí and GoSafe checked the speeds of over 150,605 vehicles around the country. 

Of these, 994 were found to be travelling in excess of the applicable speed limit in their area. 

One motorist was caught driving 122km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the R265 Porthall Ballindrait in Donegal - nearly 2.5 times the speed limit.

Another was clocked going 87km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the Lower Glanmire Road in Cork.

National ‘Slow Down Day’ was held over a 24-hour period. In total, 150,605 vehicles were checked and 994 vehicles detected in excess of speed limit.

•183km in a 120km - M1, Dundalk, Louth.
•122km in a 50km - R265, Ballindrait, Donegal.#SlowdownHelpSaveLives #SpeedKills pic.twitter.com/Ajh1GRPwPN

— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) March 27, 2021

Other notable speeds logged by Gardaí include:

• 95km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the Cork Street Dublin 8, Dublin
• 91km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the R707 Burgagery Lands East Clonmel, Tipperary 
• 81km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the Drummartin Link Road Dublin 14, Dublin
• 93km/h in a 60km/h Zone on the R188 Doocassan Drung, Cavan
• 92km/h in a 60km/h Zone on the N11 Wingfield Bray Wicklow
• 183km/h in a 120km/h Zone on the M1 Dunmahon Dundalk, Louth
• 90km/h in a 60km/h Zone on the N25 Lemybrien Lemybrien, Waterford
• 90km/h in a 60km/h Zone on the N15 Mullandrait Stranorlar Donegal
• 114km/h in an 80km/h Zone on the N4 Doddsborough Lucan, Dublin
• 141km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the N11 Timmore Newcastle Wicklow
• 68km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the R680 Cork Road in Waterford
•  81km/h in a 60km/h Zone on the N20 Ballyfookeen Bruree, Limerick 
• 67km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the St Ann's Hill Blarney, Cork
• 80km/h in a 60km/h Zone on the R445 Clogheen Monasterevin Kildare
• 130km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the South Ring Road in Cork
• 155km/h in a 120km/h Zone on the M1 Balgatheran Drogheda, Louth
• 129km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the M50 Meakstown Dublin 11, Dublin
• 77km/h in a 60km/h Zone on the N62 Clongower Thurles, Tipperary
• 64km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the N24 Knocknaconnery Carrick-On-Suir, Tipperary
• 76km/h in a 60km/h Zone on the N24 Gurtnafleur Clonmel, Tipperary
• 101km/h in a 80km/h Zone on the R513 Caherline Caherconlish, Limerick
• 63km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the R336 Cnocán An Bhodaigh Na Forbacha, Gaillimh
• 75km/h in a 60km/h Zone on the R428 Raheenadeeragh Athy, Kildare
• 75km/h in a 60km/h Zone on the L3004 Killahora Glounthaune, Cork

Garda Chief Superintendent Ray McMahon of the Roads Policing Bureau said the number of speeding incidences recorded over the 24 hours of National Slow Down Day was "concerning."

"It is concerning that despite advanced warning and our widely-circulated appeals to slow down that a significant number of motorists still failed to drive safely within the applicable speed limit," he said.

However, Mr McMahon thanked the majority of those who did comply to speed limits during their journeys. 

"I would reiterate once again that this appeal to slow down is not only for one day, but for every day.

"We will continue to maintain our focus on non-compliant drivers as they pose a risk to themselves and other road users," he said.