Garda crackdown on speeding results in over 1,000 penalties

A 24 operation to crack down on speeding motorists, which ended at 7am on Friday, resulted in more than 1,000 drivers being hit with penalties.

The operation by the gardaí and mobile speed camera company GoSafe detected many vehicles travelling significantly in excess of the speed limit. Examples included vehicles travelling at:

• 142km/h in an 80km/h zone on the N83 at Beagh, Brownsgrove, Co Galway
• 140km/h in an 80km/h Zone on the N4 Doddsborough, Lucan, Co Dublin
• 87km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the N11 Morehampton Road, Dublin 4
• 86km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the Leopardstown Road, Dublin18
• 85km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the R265 Porthall, Ballindrait, Donegal
• 84km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the Cork Street, Dublin 8.
• 81km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the Bridge Street, Kilcormac, Co Offaly
• 80km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the Pontoon Road Castlebar, Co Mayo
• 119km/h in a 80km/h Zone on the N4 Ballydowd Lucan, Co Dublin
• 109km/h in a 80km/h Zone on the R178 Redbog, Carrickmacross, Co Louth

For most drivers the penalty will be an €80 fine and three penalty points on their driving licence. But some of the more severe cases of speeding may see motorists prosecuted for dangerous driving — an offence that can lead to the loss of their driving licence.

Speaking after the operation assistant Garda commissioner Paula Hilman said one person died on the roads, bringing the number killed so far this year to 71. “I continue to appeal to all road users to slow down and stay safe this Bank Holiday Weekend.”