More Than 900 Drivers Caught For Overspeeding: Bank Holiday Update
Gardai caught more than 900 drivers for overspeeding, according to a Bank Holiday update this weekend.
One person was caught driving at a speed of 105 km/h whereas the safe speed in the said zone was 50 km/h. The detection was made in Galway’s Seapoint Promenade neighbourhood.
(Also read: Fifth Death In Meath, Ireland; Single-Vehicle Crash)
Similarly, another person was detected at 91 km/h in a safe speed limit zone of 60 km/h. This person was caught in County Louth, North Road, Drogheda.
Another person was caught doing the same; driving at a speed of 134 km/h in the area of a speed limit of 100 km/h. This was in County Kildare, Ladytown, Naas.
A majority of the drivers caught were only in the last 24 hours. The accurate amount is 160 out of a total of 946 drivers.
Gardai launched this special August Bank Holiday Weekend program on the roads. It was a part of their policing operations that was initiated at 7 am on Thursday. Out of the 900 drivers caught, Gardai suspected that 127 people were intoxicated, or any other similar influence.
Police’s views on the arrest of 900 drivers
Inspector Peter Gilsenan informed, “While we have seen generally good levels of compliance at garda checkpoints across the country, we have still detected people driving at unacceptable speeds”. The inspector added that such rash driving behaviour is not only dangerous for the driver himself but also for the other people on the road.
Drugs and drunk driving are two most risky behaviours that need serious checking by the police, he confirmed. He was of the view that whether a Bank Holiday checking or any other operation is in place or not, the message for the people concerning their road safety is always the same.
People need to understand the rules and safety, and never “drive under the influence of an intoxicant”, he emphasised.
The road safety rule book is already present in Ireland and is a complete guide for the travellers of any kind of vehicle. The document includes information on driving licences and categories of vehicles, the learner driver’s specifications, the driving test requirements, vehicle safety, good driving practices, traffic signs and road markings, traffic lights and signals, speed limits, junctions and roundabouts, and parking etc.
The speed limit section of the handbook indicates that the driver must always be familiar with his speed limit in whichever area he is driving. He has to take account of the road conditions, the possible hazards, and current weather conditions, and take into regard other users on the road.
The road police of Ireland are always concerned about driving in a safe and controlled way. They emphasise that a safe distance needs to be maintained while driving in your own lane. The safe distance has a special rule called “two-second rule” in the handbook.
It means that at least a distance of two seconds should be maintained from the next vehicle so that when it stops abruptly, the driver in the preceding car should have enough time to pull his brakes.
Speed limits are, therefore, the safety signs that apply to the roads for designated vehicles on the road. For instance, motorcycles would have a specified limit while a heavy vehicle like a truck would have to be slower due to its weight.
Whether a Bank Holiday or not, speed limits were predetermined under the Road Traffic Act 2004. A speed limit is only for ensuring that vehicles are not restricted and every driver follows the same laws, applied equally to every Irish citizen.
This year, a total of 115 people were found dead in road accidents on Irish roads. This is an increase of 12 deaths as compared to the figures of 2023.
