Driver caught driving at 130km/h in a 50km/h zone

A driver was detected travelling at 130km/h in a 50km/h zone over the bank holiday weekend, it has been revealed. 

Throughout the August Bank Holiday Weekend, an extensive Garda Roads Policing Operation was in place between 7am Thursday, August 3 to 7am Wednesday, August 9.

There were three fatalities on the roads during this period and eight serious collisions took place that resulted in eight serious and life-threatening injuries.

To date this year, 104 people have died on Irish roads which is 12 more lives lost than this time last year.

Over the Bank Holiday period, An Garda Síochána carried out 900 Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) checkpoints and 4,006 roadside drug and alcohol tests were conducted which led to 196 arrests for driving under the influence of an intoxicant.

Throughout the weekend, Garda Roads Policing Units were out detecting those speeding and issued over 1,143 on the spot fixed charge penalty notices for speeding offences.

Of the 837,171 vehicles checked for speeding by Go-Safe nationwide, 2,841 drivers were detected for speeding with notable speed including one driver who was caught doing 130km/h in a 50km/h zone in Limerick while another was detected traveling at 128km/h in a 60km/h zone in Dublin.

Another driver was caught going 147km/h in a 80km/h in Louth and in Mayo, a driver was clocked going 166km/h in a 100km/h zone. In Cork, a driver was clocked doing 203km/h in a 120km/h zone.

Fixed charge offences for other road offences during this period included 209 issued to drivers using mobile phones, 134 to unaccompanied learner drivers and 91 issued to drivers not using seatbelts.

In addition, 77 vehicles were seized from learner permit holders driving unaccompanied, 146 vehicles seized for being uninsured and 155 vehicles were seized for having no tax. 

There was a 58% reduction in serious injury road traffic collisions in comparison to the same weekend in 2022.

This also represents a 66% reduction in serious injury collisions against the previous five August Bank Holiday Weekends.

Assistant Commissioner Hilman, Roads Policing and Community Engagement Garda National Roads Policing Bureau said, "As our enforcement data demonstrates, the August Bank Holiday Weekend was especially busy on Irish roads.

"Gardaí were out across the country helping to keeping all road users safe by enforcing road traffic laws through checkpoints, road side testing for intoxicants and checking for speed and other life saver offences.

"We had a huge amount of positive support from motorists and we want to acknowledge this because this helps us and our partners to avoid a higher number of fatal and serious injury road traffic collisions.

"All those who suffer the loss of a loved one on our roads are in our thoughts. We continue to do all we can to raise awareness among all road users that we must work together to keep our roads safe.”

An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to all road users to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to slow down and to always choose a speed that is appropriate to the driving conditions, to wear your seatbelt and never use a mobile phone while driving.