Motorist in County Roscommon clocked driving at over twice the speed limit

A Garda crackdown on motoring offences saw a motorist in County Roscommon detected driving at over twice the speed limit during the past week. 

The motorist was detected driving at 124kph in a 60kph zone on the N4 near Carrick-on-Shannon. 

An Garda Síochána is conducting a dedicated road traffic enforcement operation throughout the Christmas period which began on Friday, November 29th and will continue until Monday,  January 6th.

During the second week of the operation, between Friday, December 6th and Thursday, December 12th, there were three fatalities on our roads and 13 serious collisions that resulted in a number of people receiving serious and life-threatening injuries.

Over the past week, An Garda Síochána carried out over 1,940 checkpoints, both statutory Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) and regular, high-visibility policing checkpoints. A total of 178 people were arrested during this period for driving under the influence of an intoxicant (alcohol and drugs).  Over 2,244 drivers were detected for speeding offences by An Garda Síochána and Mobile Safety Camera Vans by our Road Safety Partners, GoSafe.

Notable top speeds detected include: 121kph in a 50kph zone on the N52, Ardcroney, County Tipperary; 124kph in a 60kph zone on the N4, Drishoge, Carrick-On-Shannon, County Roscommon; 184kph in an 80kph zone on the R731, Monamolin, Rathnure, County Wexford; 165kph in a 100kph zone on the N80, Dysart, Stradbally, County Laois; 186kph in a 120kph zone on the M1, Donabate, County Dublin. Approximately 504 vehicles were seized by Gardaí for a range of offences under the Road Traffic Act, 1961.

In addition, approximately 329 Fixed Charge Notices were issued for the offence of using a mobile phone while driving.  The Christmas period is one of the busiest on Irish roads. It is also one of the periods during which road users are at the highest risk of being involved in a fatal or serious road traffic collision.

To date, 167 people have lost their lives in road traffic collisions on Irish roads.  An Garda Síochána is appealing to all those that will be taking to the roads over the Christmas period to slow down, take extra care and to give your driving your full attention.