Motorist caught speeding at 148km/h during National Slowdown Day

Motorists are being warned that driving above the legal speed limit or at a speed unsuitable for current road, weather or traffic conditions not only 'endangers the driver but also puts other road users at significant risk'. File picture: Dan Linehan

A motorist was caught speeding at 148km/h in a 120km/h zone in Co Kildare, as gardaí attempt to clamp down on speeding. 

Almost 700 vehicles have been found travelling above the speed limit on National Slowdown Day. 

The campaign, which started at midnight on Tuesday, will run for 24 hours with the aim of promoting "safer driving" and reducing speed-related collisions across the country. 

Some of the high speeds detected by gardaí include: 

• 119km/h in a 50km/hr zone on the Drummartin Link Road in Dublin 14
• 148 km/h in a 120km/h zone on the M4 in Enfield, Co. Kildare
• 139 km/h in a 60km/hr zone on the Dublin Road in Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow 
• 120 km/h in an 80km/hr zone on the N52 road in Mounthenry, Birr, Co. Offaly 
• 156 km/h in a 100km/hr zone on the N11 road in Kereight, Crossabeg, Co. Wexford 
• 163 km/h in a 120km/hr zone on the M6 road in Killavally, Tyrrellspass, Co. Westmeath
• 118 km/h in a 50km/h zone on the North Circular Road in Dublin 7  

Motorists are being warned that driving above the legal speed limit or at a speed unsuitable for current road, weather or traffic conditions not only "endangers the driver but also puts other road users at significant risk". 

"Excessive speed reduces a driver’s ability to respond to unexpected hazards and increases the likelihood of losing control, which can result in serious or fatal collisions," a garda spokesperson said. 

"Speeding can have devastating consequences — not just for the driver, but for other innocent road users. The faster a vehicle is travelling, the more severe the impact in the event of a collision."

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It follows an increase in the number of road fatalities in 2025. According to Garda statistics, 186 people have died on Irish roads this year, 19 more than this time last year.

It comes as senior gardaí said they are "very worried" at the surge in arrests of the number of people who are driving under the influence of both drugs and alcohol, and that "people are not listening" to the Christmas road safety campaign.