Driver caught at 172km/h as gardaí detect more than 1,590 bank holiday speeding offences

The highest speed recorded was on the M1 at Greenfields, Swords, Co Dublin, on Friday. Picture: Gerard McCarthy

A motorist has been caught travelling at 172km/h in a 120km/h zone as gardaí detected more than 1,590 speeding offences during the first two days of the August bank holiday roads policing operation.

The highest speed recorded was on the M1 at Greenfields, Swords, Co Dublin, on Friday.

The nationwide garda operation began on Thursday and will continue until Tuesday, with officers carrying out Mandatory Intoxicant Testing checkpoints and high-visibility patrols throughout the bank holiday weekend.

During the first two days of the operation, 39 people were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Gardaí also detected around 200 motorists using a mobile phone while driving or failing to wear a seatbelt.

Other notable speeds recorded on Friday included:

• 142km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N24 at Belline and Rogerstown, Piltown, Co Kilkenny.
• 127km/h in an 80km/h zone on the R428 at Kylebeg, Stradbally, Co Laois.
• 126km/h in a 60km/h zone on the Waterford Road in Clonmel, Co Tipperary.
• 115km/h in a 50km/h zone on Clontarf Road in Dublin 3.

Despite the high number of detections, gardaí said there were no road fatalities recorded during the first two days of the operation. The number of people killed on Irish roads so far this year stands at 108.

The August bank holiday enforcement campaign is focused on what gardaí describe as the four main "lifesaver" offences:

• Speeding 
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs 
• Using a mobile phone while driving 
• Failing to wear a seatbelt 

Gardaí urged motorists to slow down, obey speed limits, avoid driving after consuming drink or drugs, wear a seatbelt and keep mobile phones out of reach while behind the wheel.

They said road safety is everyone's responsibility and appealed to all road users to make safe choices over the bank holiday weekend to help ensure everyone gets home safely.