Driver clocked doing 163kmh on M6 near Tyrrellspass

A driver has been clocked at 163kmh in a 120kmh zone on the M6 near Tyrrellspass today as part of the garda National Slow Down Day.

An Garda Síochána, in partnership with the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and other stakeholders, is conducting a national speed enforcement operation – National #Slowdown Day – which runs for 24 hours till midnight today, Tuesday December 23.

The aim is to promote safer driving and reduce speed-related collisions nationwide, coinciding with increased road use for Christmas holidays.

So far this National #Slowdown Day, members of An Garda Síochána, along with GoSafe mobile and static safety cameras, have detected nearly 150 vehicles travelling in excess of the applicable speed limit.

Examples of high speeds detected include:

• 119kmh in a 50kmh zone on the Drummartin Link Road in Dublin 14

• 139kmh in a 60kmh zone on the Dublin Road in Newtownmountkennedy, Wicklow

• 120kmh in a 80kmh zone on the N52 road in Mounthenry, Birr, Offaly

• 156kmh in a 100kmh zone on the N11 road in Kereight, Crossabeg, Wexford

• 163kmh in a 120kmh zone on the M6 road in Killavally, Tyrrellspass, Westmeath

An Garda Síochána conducts several high-profile National #SlowDown Days each year, aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of speeding.

The operations serve to remind motorists of the serious risks associated with excessive or inappropriate speed, promote greater compliance with speed limits and support efforts to deter and detect dangerous driving behaviours.

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.

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.

An Garda Síochána continues to actively work with relevant partners as per the Government’s Road Safety Strategy 2021–2030 ‘a strategic, co-ordinated and multi-sectoral approach to road safety across government and key stakeholders will be critical to achieving a safer, better Ireland for all’.

This involves approximately 180 measures for delivery by all partners to the Strategy across areas such as education, technology, information sharing, legislation, roads infrastructure and enforcement.

National Slow Down Day is supported by and supports the Road Safety Authority’s campaigns such as: Speed Fallacy (rsa.ie); Anti-speeding campaign by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).