To date 96 people have lost their lives on Irish roads during 2012, with the month of June being particularly bad with 25 fatalities. The carnage has led to a reversal in the downward trend in road deaths that has seen year-on-year figures dropping over the past six years; as it stands, four more people have lost their lives in 2012 than over the same period last year.
With this in mind An Garda Siochana, in conjunction with the Road Safety Authority, National Roads Authority and National Transport Authority, have launched the 'Slow Down' campaign to encourage road users to reduce their speed and save lives.
Speaking in Dublin Castle at the launch of the initiative Garda Commissioner Martin stressed that "A speed limit is defined as the maximum that you may travel on any road, when conditions are perfect. It is not a target."
"The time lost by reducing your speed by 5 or 10km/h on a long journey is insignificant, but the increase in road safety terms to you and all around you is very significant."
Public and private sector fleet operators are being asked to participate in the initiative by circulating leaflets to employees with the key message to 'Slow Down; and, whether driving for business or private purposes, to always drive within the speed limit and at a speed appropriate to the prevailing conditions.
A high-profile 24-hour campaign involving highly visible speed checkpoints on national primary and secondary roads, carried out by local members of the Garda Traffic Corps, and also by GoSafe vans, will be launched this weekend beginning at 7am on Friday morning.