Gardai highlight dangers of speeding ahead of National Slow Down Day

An Garda Síochána have highlighted the dangers of speeding ahead of National Slow Down Day.

Gardai will conduct the 24 hour national speed enforcement operation supported by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and other stakeholders tomorrow, Wednesday, February 26.

The aim of National Slow Down Day is to remind motorists of the dangers of speeding, encourage a national conversation on the impact of speeding, to increase overall compliance with speed limits in place nationwide and to deter and detect those that are intent on driving at excessive or inappropriate speed.

To date in 2025 there have unfortunately been 24 fatalities on Irish roads in 23 Fatal Road Traffic Collison’s. This is a reduction of 12 deaths on the same period in 2024.

During 2024, An Garda Síochána, with the support of our Roads Safety Partners GoSafe, issued over 145,000+ Fixed Charge Notices to drivers driving in excess of the speed limit, nearly 400 detections every day (Garda and GoSafe detections).

Driving in excess of the legal speed limit, and/ or driving at an inappropriate speed for the prevailing road, weather and traffic conditions not only puts you at risk but also endangers the lives of others around you.

Statistics show that 1 in 10 pedestrians hit by car will die at 30km/hr, at 50 km/h - 5 in 10 will die, and at 60 km/h - 9 in 10 will die.

When you speed, it reduces the potential reaction time to react to something unexpected on the road and there is an increase in the likelihood of losing control of your vehicle, which could lead to a serious or fatal accident.

The consequences of speeding can be devastating, not only for yourself but for other innocent people on the road. The higher the speed the greater the impact if you have a Road Traffic Collision.