Driver broke limit by 100kph over bank holiday period

A DRIVER travelling at 228kph in a 120kph zone was among nearly 3,000 motorists detected speeding over the St Brigid’s Day bank holiday weekend.

The motorist was caught doing almost twice the motorway’s speed limit on the M1 in Balgatheran, Drogheda, Co. Louth.

The incident occurred during an extensive Garda roads policing operation, which was in place over the bank holiday weekend, between 7am on Thursday, February 1 and 7am on Tuesday.

Despite those efforts, gardaí said that two people died on our roads during that period, and 11 serious collisions took place that resulted in 12 people suffering serious or life-threatening injuries.

Notable top speeds detected in each speed zone included: 99kph in a 50kph zone on Cork Street, Dublin 8; 143kph in a 60kph zone on the R700 in Knockavilla, New Ross, Co. Wexford; and 148kph in an 80kph zone on the R339 in Glenrevagh, Oranmore, Co. Galway.

Another driver was caught doing 153kph in a 100kph zone, on the N61 in Carrownalassan, Co. Mayo.

Over the bank holiday period, An Garda Síochána carried out more than 898 mandatory intoxicant testing checkpoints.

Over 4,780 roadside drug and alcohol tests were also conducted, which led to 161 arrests for driving under the influence of an intoxicant.

More than 15% of these arrests occurred between the hours of 6am and 2pm.

Fixed charge notices were levelled at over 110 drivers who were caught using mobile phones, along with 61 people who were pulled over for not wearing their seatbelts. A further 215 unaccompanied learner drivers were also caught by gardaí, and more than 100 vehicles were seized from such motorists.

Also, more than 420 vehicles were seized for having no tax or insurance.

Chief Superintendent Jane Humphries, of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau, said: ‘Gardaí working nationwide over the bank holiday weekend received good support from the public and we really hope that this continues as it helps us to keep road users safe.

She added: ‘Enforcing road traffic laws is a core element of road safety and so too is our work to raise awareness among all ages. We all have a personal responsibility to prevent road fatalities and serious injury road traffic collisions, and we must work together.’

Gardaí appealed to all road users to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to slow down and choose a speed that is appropriate to the driving conditions, to wear a seatbelt and to never use a mobile phone while driving.