Donegal motorists have again hit the headlines for the wrong reasons after it was revealed that Ireland’s fastest driver was caught driving locally at a staggering 190kph.
The motorist was caught at Cloghfin, Castlefinn in the past 7 days.
Gardai have released details of the frightening incident as motorists across the country are being urged to play their part in ‘National Slow Down Day’ which takes place today.
The initiative will see An Garda Síochána conduct a major speed enforcement operation all across the country in a bid to reduce speed-related collisions and injuries.
Gardaí are warning motorists to slow down and not to speed on the roads tomorrow.
Slow Down Day will run from 7am on today, Friday until 7am on Saturday, and consist of high-visibility Garda activities in all 1,031 speed enforcement zones. Updates will be available throughout the day using #slowdownday.
Speaking in advance of Slow Down Day, Chief Superintendent Aidan Reid of the Roads Policing Bureau said: “The aim of Slow Down Day is to remind motorists the dangers of speeding, to increase compliance with speed limits and to deter them from driving at excessive speeds. We will be activating a major speed enforcement operation in counties across Ireland tomorrow and as part of this we are urging all road users to join us in reducing speed and making our roads safe.
“There has been a significant increase in road deaths this year compared to 2015 and unfortunately, excessive speed is a major contributory factor in the majority these. This is not just a catchphrase, but a stark fact proven by the analysis of four years of fatal collision reports. The higher the speed, the greater the likelihood of a collision happen and the more severe outcome of that collision. Recognising this fact will not only protect you, but all those who share the road with you. It is everyone’s responsibility to act safe.
“As a general rule, a 1% reduction in average speed will bring about a 4% reduction in fatal collisions. With this in mind, we are urging every road user to please play their part in reducing speed and risk on the roads tomorrow. Of course, this is a message we would advise people to heed every day of the year, not just Slow Down Day.”
Gardaí have also launched a nationwide primary school competition as part of the initiative, in which young pupils are being urged to ‘name the newest Garda member’. It will run until the end of October and more information can be found on the Garda Facebook page.
Superintendent Reid added “All primary schoolchildren have been notified of a competition to win a visit by the Garda band to their school by creating their own road safety poster, poem or song. They are also being asked to name the newest Garda member, suggestions for which are already available to see on our Facebook page. Already we have had some fantastic submissions, from Garda CopOn McSlowdown to Garda Dee Celerate to Garda Teddy McSteady. Keep them coming!” See more examples by clicking here – https://www.facebook.com/angardasiochana/
Schoolchildren are also being encouraged as part of Slow Down Day to engage with Gardaí online by posing questions through the @gardatraffic twitter page and An Garda Síochána Facebook.
The ‘slow down’ message will also be promoted by Gardaí tomorrow through a public awareness campaign involving national, local and social media. In addition, Garda personnel will be out and about in their local communities tomorrow sharing advice on road safety and good road behaviour with local people.
National Slow Down Day is a joint initiative of An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority and various stakeholders.
Supt. Reid will be available for interviews tomorrow between 10am and 12pm, email pressoffice@garda.ie to arrange same.
Below is fresh data outlining the top speeds detected per county over the past 7 days. Speeds of note include:
• 100km/h limit: Highest speed over the past 7 days was 190 km/h on the N15 Cloghfin Castlefinn Donegal with a similar speed on the N52 Gorteen Mullingar Westmeath
• 80 km/h limit: Highest speed was 149 km/h on an 80km/h zone – R733 Tracystown East Cleariestown Wexford
• 60 km/h limit: Highest speed was 107km/h in a 60km/h zone on the N81 Glenaraneen Brittas Dublin
• 50 km/h limit: Highest speed was 101 km/h on the R448 Kilcullenbridge Kilcullen Kildare
50 km/h zone
County Highest Speed Location
Carlow No Detection No Detection
Cavan No Detection No Detection
Clare 61 R462 Gortnacorragh Kilkishen Clare
Cork 74 R619 Nadrid Coachford Cork
Donegal 80 R245 Umlagh Carrigart Donegal
Dublin 91 Balbutcher Lane Ballymun Dublin11 Dublin
Galway 75 N66 Cuscarrick Loughrea Galway
Kerry 79 R561 Ballinvarrig Firies Kerry
Kildare 101 R448 Kilcullenbridge Kilcullen Kildare
Kilkenny 74 R448 Ballyhale Ballyhale Kilkenny
Laois 63 N77 Knocknamoe Abbeyleix Laois
Leitrim 67 R280 Laghta Kinlough Leitrim
Limerick 88 N21 Abbeyfeale East Abbeyfeale Limerick
Longford No Detection No Detection
Louth 92 R177 Carrickedmond Dundalk Louth
Mayo No Detection No Detection
Meath No Detection No Detection
Monaghan No Detection No Detection
Offaly 89 N62 Drumbane Birr Offaly
Roscommon No Detection No Detection
Sligo 84 N17 Ballynacarrow South Ballinacarrow Sligo
Tipperary 76 R661 Garryduff West Dundrum Tipperary
Waterford 85 R711 Dock Road Waterford Waterford
Westmeath No Detection No Detection
Wexford 72 N80 Newtownbarry Bunclody Wexford
Wicklow 67 N81 Stratford Lodge Baltinglass Wicklow
60 km/h zone
County Highest Speed Location
Carlow No Detection No Detection
Cavan 85 R188 Doocassan Drung Cavan
Clare 82 R463 Gortatogher Ardnacrusha Clare
Cork 96 R586 Murragh Enniskeane Cork
Donegal 90 R267 Magheracar Bundoran Donegal
Dublin 107 N81 Glenaraneen Brittas Dublin
Galway 71 R336 Na Haille An Lochán Beag Gaillimh
Kerry 92 N69 Billeragh Listowel Kerry
Kildare 80 R401 Curragh Newbridge Kildare
Kilkenny 93 N76 Margarets Field Kilkenny Kilkenny
Laois 95 R422 Townparks Mountmellick Laois
Leitrim No Detection No Detection
Limerick 83 R445 Newcastle Annacotty Limerick
Longford No Detection No Detection
Louth No Detection No Detection
Mayo 74 N5 Lowpark Charlestown Mayo
Meath 73 R125 Greenoge Ashbourne Meath
Monaghan 77 N54 Cornecassa Demesne Monaghan Monaghan
Offaly No Detection No Detection
Roscommon 86 R362 Monksland Athlone Roscommon
Sligo No Detection No Detection
Tipperary No Detection No Detection
Waterford No Detection No Detection
Westmeath No Detection No Detection
Wexford 91 R772 Ballaghboy Gorey Wexford
Wicklow 85 R772 Kiladreenan Newtownmountkennedy Wicklow
80 km/h zone
County Highest Speed Location
Carlow 92 R702 Rathgeran Borris Carlow
Cavan No Detection No Detection
Clare 115 R352 Caherloghan Tulla Clare
Cork 99 R630 Loughatalia Midleton Cork
Donegal 117 R250 Rashedoge Letterkenny Donegal
Dublin 107 R125 Rathbeale Road Swords Dublin
Galway 104 R446 Oatfield Cappataggle Galway
Kerry 120 R551 Liscahane Ardfert Kerry
Kildare 118 R448 Inchaquire Athy Kildare
Kilkenny 110 R693 Clashacrow Freshford Kilkenny
Laois 112 R419 Kilbride Portarlington Laois
Leitrim 93 R280 Drumheckil Carrick-On-Shannon Leitrim
Limerick 102 R513 Ballynamona Hospital Limerick
Longford 123 R397 Knockagowny Longford Longford
Louth 107 R166 Castlebellingham Castlebellingham Louth
Mayo 121 R314 Rathroeen Ballina Mayo
Meath 128 R132 Gormanston Julianstown Meath
Monaghan 104 R188 Fairfield Demesne Rockcorry Monaghan
Offaly 104 R420 Clonyquin Portarlington Offaly
Roscommon 122 R371 Ballyleague Lanesborough Roscommon
Sligo No Detection No Detection
Tipperary 113 N24 Bohercrow Tipperary Tipperary
Waterford 96 R666 Gairha Ballyduff Waterford
Westmeath 91 R446 Corcloon Milltownpass Westmeath
Wexford 149 R733 Tracystown East Cleariestown Wexford
Wicklow 130 R753 Tinnakilly Upper Aughrim Wicklow
100 km/h zone
County Highest Speed Location
Carlow 140 R448 Wells Royal Oak Carlow
Cavan 125 N3 Daggan Cavan Cavan
Clare 116 N18 Cratloekeel Cratloe Clare
Cork 134 N20 Ballymartin Blarney Cork
Donegal 190 N15 Cloghfin Castlefinn Donegal
Dublin 159 N3 Huntstown Dublin15 Dublin
Galway 121 N83 Ballymoney South Dunmore Galway
Kerry 128 N21 Ballydwyer West Tralee Kerry
Kildare 110 N78 Burtown Little Burtown Kildare
Kilkenny 128 R712 Blanchvillespark Clifden Kilkenny
Laois 117 N77 Colt Abbeyleix Laois
Leitrim No Detection No Detection
Limerick 161 N24 Whitehall Limerick Limerick
Longford 137 N4 Lackan Edgeworthstown Longford
Louth 131 N52 Ballybailie Ardee Louth
Mayo 137 N17 Castlemagarret North Claremorris Mayo
Meath No Detection No Detection
Monaghan 135 N53 Annadrumman Castleblayney Monaghan
Offaly 122 N62 Ballylin Ferbane Offaly
Roscommon 132 R446 Beagh (Trench) Ballinasloe Roscommon
Sligo 132 N4 Knoxspark Ballisodare Sligo
Tipperary 158 N52 Grange Upper Nenagh Tipperary
Waterford 126 N25 Parkeennaglogh Kilmacthomas Waterford
Westmeath 190 N52 Gorteen Mullingar Westmeath
Wexford 129 N11 Edermine Enniscorthy Wexford
Wicklow 134 N11 Kilcroney Bray Wicklow
