Gardaí and the National Safety Council (NSC) have begun a road-safety safety campaign targeting speeding motorists in the run-up to St Patrick's Day festivities.
The campaign, part of Operation Lifesaver, began at midnight today and runs until midnight on March 17th. Gardaí say they will be out in force, detecting speeders and encouraging them to slow down.
The NSC will air 30-second radio ads highlighting the dangers and consequences of speeding. It will also be screening its TV Penalty Points speeding commercial throughout the campaign.
The first 15 months of the penalty points system has seen more than 107,000 drivers receiving points on their licences. So far this year 79 people have died on the State's roads, an increase of 25 on the same period last year. This figure includes 21 pedestrians, 33 drivers, 13 passengers, seven motorcyclists and four pedal cyclists.
Chief Superintendent Denis Fitzpatrick, Head of the Garda National Traffic Bureau said the force was "committed to reducing the level of collisions on our roads."
"Around a quarter of all road deaths could be prevented if drivers slowed down and observed the speed limits. For those people who persist in breaking speed limits, the message from An Garda Síochána is simple - you will be caught, will be fined, will receive penalty points, and could eventually lose your licence."
Chief Superintendent Fitzpatrick added: "If you witness dangerous driving, call the 'Traffic Watch' lo-call number 1890-205805."
NSC chief executive Mr Pat Costello, said: "It's been a bad year to date from a road safety point of view. . . . It is estimated that for every life lost on our roads over 100 relatives and friends are affected."
"We have to realise that using the roads is the most dangerous thing we do every day," he added.
