Three killed and over 2,200 motorists caught speeding during garda road safety campaign
Three people were killed and more than 2,200 motorists were caught speeding during a garda road safety operation over the past week.
Members of An Garda Síochána are conducting a national road traffic enforcement operation throughout the Christmas period. The operation began on Friday, November 29 and runs until Monday, January 6.
Between Friday, December 6, and Thursday, December 12, three people were killed and a number sustained serious injuries amid 13 serious collisions on Irish roads.
Over the same time period, gardaí carried out over 1,940 checkpoints on roads across the country, leading to 178 people being arrested for driving under the influence alcohol or drugs.
At least 2,244 drivers were detected for speeding offences in the seven days to last Thursday, including one motorist caught doing 121km/h in a 50km/h zone of the N52 in Ardcroney in Tipperary.
Other notable detections included:
- A motorist clocked doing 124km/h in a 60kph zone on the N4 Drishoge in Carrick-On-Shannon, Co Roscommon;
- a motorist clocked doing 184km/h in an 80kph zone on the R731, Monamolin, in Rathnure, Co Wexford;
- a motorist clocked doing 165kph in a 100kph zone on the N80, Dysart, in Stradbally, Co Laois;
- and another clocked doing 186kph in a 120kph zone on the M1 in Donabate, Co Dublin.
Between Friday, December 6, and Thursday, December 12, gardaí also seized approximately 504 vehicles for a range of offences under the Road Traffic Act, 1961, and handed out approximately 329 Fixed Charge Notices for the offence of using a mobile phone while driving.
“The Christmas period is one of the busiest on Irish roads. It is also one of the periods during which road users are at the highest risk of being involved in a fatal or serious road traffic collision,” a garda spokesperson said.
“To date, 167 people have lost their lives in road traffic collisions on Irish roads.
“An Garda Síochána is appealing to all those that will be taking to the roads over the Christmas period to slow down, take extra care and to give your driving your full attention,” the spokesperson added.
