A National “Slow Down” day will take place from 7am today, Friday 25th October to 7am tomorrow, Saturday 26th October. It aims to raise awareness of the dangers of inappropriate and excessive speed, reduce the number of speed related collisions, save lives and reduce injuries on the roads.

For the past seven years, there has been a year on year decrease in the number of road fatalities in Ireland. However, as of the 24th October 2013, there have been 13 more fatalities on our roads than at this time last year. 

This brings to 153, the number of people killed in road traffic collisions to date. 162 people lost their lives on Irish roads in 2012.

Drivers, passengers or motorcyclists have accounted for over 4/5ths of all fatalities in 2013. Similarly nearly 1/5th of fatalities have occurred on a Friday. The time period of 2pm-6pm every day, accounts for nearly a third of all fatal road traffic collisions.

Excessive or inappropriate speed remains a significant contributory factor in road traffic collisions.

Between January and September of this year, Gardaí issued 140,000 fixed charged notices for speeding with 14% of detections for speeding in excess of 30km/h above the limit.

Please support National Slow Down Day by reducing your speed while driving and by asking your colleagues to do the same.  

More information here