Speeding motorists targeted as national Slow Down Day begins

The aim of national Slow Down Day is to promote safer driving behaviour among motorists, and to encourage all of society to help prevent road traffic collisions. Picture: Dan Linehan

Speeding motorists will be targeted by gardaí as part of the latest national Slow Down Day which began at 7am on Friday.

As part of the operation, there will be high visibility speed enforcement across the country's road network for the next 24 hours.

So far this year, 63 people have already died on Irish roads. That is 14 more than the same day last year.

Gardaí say the figure is "worryingly high" and "must be prevented from rising further by working together to keep road users safe."

In 2023, there was 184 fatalities resulting from 173 fatal collisions on Irish roads. This represented a 19% increase in road deaths compared to 2022.

It is the highest number of fatalities since 2014, when there were 192 deaths.

The aim of national Slow Down Day, which is also supported by the Road Safety Authority, is to promote safer driving behaviour among motorists, and to encourage all of society to help prevent road traffic collisions.