A road safety campaign for the Christmas period got underway on December 1 and will continue until January 5.
Between December 15 and December 21, the third week of the campaign, nearly 5,400 drivers were detected for speeding offences by gardaí, along with static safety cameras, mobile safety camera vans, and GoSafe.
Speed van stock image
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – Monday, December 22
Among the top speeds were a driver detected travelling at 192kmh in a 100kmh zone in Kilmeaden, Co Waterford.
Another driver was detected going 95kmh in a 50kmh zone on Ballymount Road Upper in Dublin 24.
A driver on the N15 in Oola, Co Limerick was caught going 122kmh in a 60kmh zone, while a driver in Fahan, Co Donegal was detected going 144kmh in an 80kmh zone.
Also among the notable top speeds detected was a driver travelling at 137kmh in a 120kmh zone on the M1 in Dundalk, Co Louth.
Gardaí will carry out a 24-hour national slowdown day operation on Tuesday, December 23. The initiative aims to promote safer driving and reduce speed-related collisions across the country, coinciding with increased road use during the festive period.
The national slowdown day will run from 12.01am to 11.59pm on Tuesday.
In the week between December 15 and December 21, there were six deaths on Irish roads and 13 serious collisions resulting in a number of people suffering serious and life-threatening injuries.
Over the period, gardaí carried out more than 2,021 checkpoints between mandatory intoxicant testing and regular, high-visibility checkpoints.
170 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
More than 650 vehicles were seized by gardaí for a range offences under the Road Traffic Act, 1961.
Gardaí also issued 436 fixed charge notices for the offence of using a mobile phone while driving, and 81 fixed charge notices for seat belt offences.
“An Garda Síochána is appealing to all those who will be taking to the roads over the Christmas period to slow down, take extra care and to give your driving your full attention,” a spokesperson said.