Shocking number of motorists caught speeding across Ireland amid Christmas rush

Over 1,000 motorists were caught speeding in an An Garda Síochána national speed enforcement operation - National Slowdown Day – which ran across Ireland for 24 hours from 12:00am to 11:59pm today, Tuesday December 23, 2025.

The aim of the initiative is to promote safer driving and reduce speed-related collisions nationwide, coinciding with increased road use for Christmas holidays.

Read next: Nearly 400 new speed cameras to be operational across Ireland from January

As a result of National Slowdown Day, members of An Garda Síochána, along with GoSafe mobile and static safety cameras, have detected 1,038 vehicles travelling in excess of the applicable speed limit.

Of these detections, 377 drivers were intercepted by Gardaí.

Examples of the high speeds detected include:

168 km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the N30 Coolamurry, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
163 km/h in a 120km/h Zone on the M6 Killavally, Tyrrellspass, Co. Westmeath
156 km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the N11 Kereight, Crossabeg, Co. Wexford
148 km/h in a 120km/h Zone on the M4 Kilmore, Enfield, Co. Kildare
139 km/h in a 60km/h Zone on the Dublin Road, Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow
121 km/h in a 80km/h Zone on the R478 Derreen (Ed Ballysteen), Liscannor, Co. Clare
121 km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the R173 Rockmarshall, Jenkinstown, Co. Louth
120 km/h in a 80km/h Zone on the N52 Mounthenry, Birr, Co. Offaly
119 km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the Drummartin Link Road, Dublin 14, Co. Dublin

Each year, An Garda Síochána conducts several high-profile National SlowDown Days, aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of speeding.

An Garda Síochána continues to remind the public and all those that will be taking to the roads over the Christmas period to slow down, take extra care and to give your driving your full attention and never, ever drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs.