National Slow Down
Day
25.03.21
GARDAÍ will conduct
National Slow Down Day over a 24 hour period from 7am
tomorrow, Friday 26th March, to 7am on Saturday, 27th
March. The
operation will consist of high visibility speed
enforcement in 1322 zones throughout the country.
The aim of Slow Down day is to remind drivers of the
dangers of speeding, to increase compliance with speed
limits and act as a deterrent to driving at excessive or
inappropriate speed. The overall objective is to reduce
the number of speed related collisions, save lives and
reduce injuries on our roads.
In the period January to December 2020 there were 137
fatal collisions resulting in 148 fatalities on Irish
roads. Excessive and inappropriate speed is a major
contributory factor in road traffic collisions. An Road
Safety Authority report on fatal collisions between 2008
and 2012 found that excessive speed was a contributory
factor in almost one third of all fatal collisions
during that time. The higher the speed, the greater the
likelihood is of a collision happening and the more
severe the outcome of that collision. |
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Chief Superintendent Ray
McMahon, Roads Policing Bureau said: "I would like to
thank those who travel within the speed limits, which is
necessary to save lives. While most drivers and riders
drive safely and within these limits, there are
unfortunately still those who do not. National Slow Down
Day is about making our roads and our communities safer.
During the current Covid-19 restrictions we have seen an
increase in the number of vulnerable users on our roads.
Despite reduced volumes of traffic on our roads the
levels of speed has increased.”
As a general rule a 1% reduction in average speed will
bring about a 4% reduction in fatal collisions, and this
is why reducing motorists’ speed is essential to
improving road safety." |
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