Operation "Slow Down"

It is much to early to have the full picture on the operation however a preliminary review indicates the following.

From 7am on Friday 6th July to 7am on Saturday 7th July, a change in the driving habits of the public was obvious to those carrying out the operation.

This was borne out by analysis of the data gathered throughout the period.

Over 75,000 vehicles were monitored by the GoSafe safety camera vans over the 24hour period. Out of this number, 154 motorists were detected speeding.  This figure is significantly less than would be expected for a similar period, typically where there would be in the region of 300 detections.  There have been changes in driver behaviour in safety camera zones and this has resulted in the percentage of road fatalities in zones dropping from an average of 31% during the years prior to the project commencing, to a figure of 18% in 2011.

More than half of the two to three hour monitoring periods ended with no speeding detections. (Typically 5 to 6 detections are encountered during each session)

Assistant Commissioner for Traffic, John O’ Mahoney outlined:

"I would like to thank the public for embracing the Operation, and I urge people to continue to drive within the speed limit and at a speed suitable to the conditions. All reductions in speed help lower the numbers of collisions thereby saving lives.”

Despite the widespread publicity and extensive advertising carried out by the Road Safety Authority with the cooperation of the media and the widespread support from many other organisations, some drivers have failed to change their driving behaviour.

Speed enforcement following the "Slow Down"operation continues. Despite improvements in driver behaviour there is concerns stemming from recent incidents of a drivers travelling at excessive speeds:

• on the 7th and 8th  July , motorists driving at  154 Km/h  were detected where a 100 Km/h speed limit applied.

• On the 10th of July, a motorist driving at 130 Km/h was detected where a 80 Km/h speed limit applied.

Assistant Commissioner O’Mahoney’s plea to such drivers is  "Slow Down” – our continued monitoring and detection since last weekend clearly demonstrates some drivers continue to put themselves and other road users at risk.
 

Note:

During the 24 hour period for Operation Slowdown - 07:00 Friday 6th July to 07:00 Saturday 7th July there was:-

1 fatal collision resulting in 1 fatality (Wexford)

1 serious injury collision and 1 person seriously injured

Over the course of the same weekend (Friday 00:00 to Sunday 23:59) there were:-

2 fatal collisions resulting in 2 fatalities

5 serious injury collisions and 7 serious injuries

Last Year 2011

The equivalent first Friday last year was the 1st July 2011.

07:00 01/07/2011 to 07:00 02/07/2011

4 fatal collisions resulting in 4 fatalities

No serious injury collisions

For the weekend 00:00 01/07/2011 to 23:59 03/07/2011

4 fatal collisions resulting in 4 fatalities

3 serious injury collisions / 4 people seriously injured

As of 9 am this morning 102 people have died on our roads, up 5 on this day last year.

 
Press Release Dated the 7/7/12 - Operation Slow Down  

Gardaí wish to thank the public for their co-operation during Operation Slow Down. Reports from around the country indicate that the response to the key message of the initiative - to slow down - was heeded, and there was a visible reduction in speed from the motoring public.

The initiative was launched by the Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan to remind road users that a reduction in speed helps to reduce collisions, which, in turn, lowers the number of deaths on our roads. A small reduction in speed loses you an insignificant amount of time on long journeys, however, it makes a huge difference in terms of road safety.

 
Commissioner Martin Callinan stated:

"Safety on our roads is the responsibility of everyone and as Garda Commissioner I wish to acknowledge the positive response from the motoring public during this particular operation. I also wish to acknowledge the significant contribution made be the RSA, the media and all of the stakeholders."

The Garda Commissioner continued that the feedback from members of the Garda Traffic Corps accross the country would indicate a significant reduction in speed accross the road network during the operation. Up to 4pm over 33,000 vehicles were monitiored and only 45 were detected for exceeding the speed limit.  This clearly demostrates the public " buy in" to road safety and we welcome the change in driver behaviour and urge the motoring public to continue to " reduce speed, drive at an appropraite speed for the conditions and therefore save lives. Gardai will continue to enforce the legislation for those drivers who speed and fail to change their driving behaviour."

Note:

In one county 1000 vehicles were monitiored and all drivers were compliant with the speed limit.

Press Release dated the 3/7/12

From 7am on Friday, the 6th July to 7am on Saturday, the 7th July, An Garda Síochána, along with other stakeholders, will run Operation "Slow Down”.

The objectives of the Operation are to raise awareness of the dangers of inappropriate and excessive speed, reduce the number of speed related collisions, and therefore save lives and reduce injuries on our roads.  
 

For the past six years, there has been a year on year decrease in the number of road fatalities in Ireland. As we move into the second half of 2012, there have been four more fatalities on our roads than at this time last year. (As at 13.30hrs on 4th July). 
 

Based on collision data Fridays and Saturdays have the highest proportion of fatal collisions. Allied to this, July and August tend to have the greatest number of fatal collisions month on month. (Please see note to editors for statistics) 
 

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan, in co-operation with other stakeholders nationwide including the Road Safety Authority,  National Roads Authority, National Transport Authority,  Health and Safety Authority and local authorities, is appealing to members of the public to:- 
 

                               Slow down and save lives 
 

Commissioner Callinan speaking today in Dublin Castle stressed: 
 

"A speed limit is defined as the maximum that you may travel on any road, when conditions are perfect. It is not a target. When you are faced with adverse weather, road or traffic conditions, the most effective way to keep safe is to slow down and give yourself more time to adapt to all that is happening around you. We are appealing to all vehicle drivers to keep within the speed limits, and when necessary, slow down. The time lost by reducing your speed by 5 or 10 km/h on a long journey is insignificant, but the increase in road safety terms to you and all around you is very significant.” 
 

Commissioner Callinan continued:-"We particularly wish to thank all the companies, organisations and departments that are supporting An Garda Síochána and the RSA with this important safety initiative. The massive level of support is indicative of the desire and necessity to always keep Road Safety to the forefront of all our minds” 
 

Mr. Noel Brett, CEO, Road Safety Authority said: 
 

"Tragically 96 lives have been lost on our roads so far this year in unnecessary, preventable tragedies. The month of June has been particularly bad with 25 road deaths, a level of carnage not seen in almost two years. I’m also concerned about the number of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities which show a marked increase on this time last year. 
 

As we look to the next six months it is clear that we all need to make a bigger effort on the road and hopefully we can save lives and prevent further grief and suffering for families and communities across the country. The people of Ireland have shown what can be achieved when road safety is prioritised. So, I’m asking every road user to set their own personal target to return to the life-saving behaviour they have shown over the last number of years.” 
 

Each Garda Division will have an area locally where members will be available to give road safety advice and distribute leaflets. Garda members who are not responding to emergency calls will be leading by example - reducing their speed, and driving at speeds appropriate to the prevailing conditions. 
 

Public and private sector fleet operators have been asked to participate in the initiative by circulating employees with the key message to "Slow Down” and, whether driving for business or private purposes, to always drive within the speed and at a speed appropriate to the prevailing (repetition) conditions. 
 

There will be highly visible speed checkpoints on national primary and secondary roads, carried out by local members and the Garda Traffic Corps, and also by GoSafe vans. 
 

Note to Editors 
 

This initiative aims to raise general awareness of speeding and will encourage drivers to reduce speed at all times, not just for the 24 hour period of this initiative. To achieve a permanent change of driver behaviour a small reduction in speed will save lives. We are identifying this 24 hour period and notifying the public that Garda speed detection activity will be intense. We are asking drivers to respond by reducing their speed.