Gardaí catch 125 speeding drivers during National Slow Down Day

The national speed enforcement operation will continue until midnight tonight. File Picture

A driver in Co Wicklow was caught doing 114km/h in a 100km/h zone during a nationwide garda operation aimed at tackling speeding on Irish roads today.

Since midnight, An Garda Síochána, in partnership with the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and other stakeholders, has been conducting a national speed enforcement operation as part of National Slow Down Day.

The operation will continue until midnight tonight. As of 9.30am this morning, gardaí said they had caught 125 motorists for speeding, including one motorist clocked at 44km/h above the speed limit in a 100km/h zone of the N11 in Newcastle, Co Wicklow.

Other examples of high speeds recorded include:

• 84km/h in a 60km/h zone in Ashbourne, Co. Meath 
• 110km/h in an 80km/h zone on the R445 in Portlaoise 
• 141km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N67 in Co. Galway 
• 153km/h in a 120km/h zone on the M7 in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary 

A Garda spokesperson said National Slow Down Day operations are carried out a number of times each year "to remind motorists of the dangers of speeding, encourage a national conversation on the impact of speeding, increase overall compliance with speed limits in place nationwide, and to deter and detect those who are intent on driving at excessive or inappropriate speed."

Further updates will be issued throughout the day on Wednesday, the spokesperson added.