Gardai warn nine out of 10 people hit by a car at 60kph or faster will die
Gardaí say that as the evenings get darker driving conditions will become more challenging and advise motorists to always use dipped headlights, even during daylight hours
Gardaí have warned that nine out of 10 people hit by a car at 60kph or faster will die.
It comes as officers have urged drivers to slow down at the start of National Slow Down Day which came into force this morning. The 24-hour high-profile enforcement operation is aimed at reminding drivers about the importance of observing speed limits.
The operation comes as the number of deaths on Irish roads has steadily increased in recent years. So far this year, more than 70,000 fixed charge notices have been issued to drivers who exceed the speed limit, which equates to more than 375 drivers every day.
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Garda chiefs said the aim of National Slow Down Day is to remind motorists of the dangers of speeding and to increase overall compliance with speed limits. The timing of the operation is also important because as summer draws to a close drivers should also be aware of seasonal weather changes.
Gardaí say that as the evenings get darker driving conditions will become more challenging and advise motorists to always use dipped headlights, even during daylight hours.
With the return of school, additional traffic will be on the roads, in particular younger vulnerable road users, pedestrians, cyclists and school buses dropping and collecting school children.
Research shows that one in 10 pedestrians struck by a car at 30kph will die, but this jumps to five in 10 at 50kph and up to nine in 10 at 60kph.
A Garda spokesperson said: “It is important to remember that no matter how good the road and weather conditions are, any increase in speed will significantly increase the likelihood of being involved in a serious or fatal road traffic collision.”
Last year saw an increase in fatal road traffic collisions, with a total of 184 people losing their lives in 173 fatal collisions. This compares to 154 deaths in 149 collisions in 2022 – that’s a 19 per cent increase.
The Garda spokesperson added: “The consequences of speeding can be devastating, not only for yourself but for other innocent people on the road.”
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