An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) in Ireland are appealing to drivers to reduce their speed and be mindful of vulnerable road users ahead of “Slow Down Day”, a national speed enforcement operation for a 24-hour period from 07.00hrs on Thursday 21 October to 07.00hrs on Friday 22 October 2021.
The aim of “Slow Down Day”, held in the lead up to the October Bank Holiday weekend, 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 Ireland’s roads.
While An Garda Síochána will be focusing its enforcement activity across all speed limit zones, there will be a focus on rural roads.
“A speed limit is there to keep road users safe, it is the maximum legal speed that a driver can travel on a given road type. However, it is not a target,” said Sam Waide, CEO of the Road Safety Authority. “You should always choose a speed that is appropriate to the conditions and your experience. By slowing down you give yourself time and space to react in an emergency. The faster you drive, the more likely you are to be involved in a collision which could result in death or serious injury. This is particularly true for vulnerable road users. If hit at 60km/h 9 out of 10 pedestrians will be killed. Hit at 30km/h 9 out of 10 will survive.”
