BREAKING: Traffic at a standstill on Limerick motorway following latest collision

TRAFFIC is at a standstill on the M20 Limerick to Cork motorway following the latest road traffic collision in the city and county this Wednesday.

TII reports that the collision between J4 - Patrickswell and J5 - Ballybronoge occurred shortly before 12.30pm. The incident occurred on the lanes heading in the Cork direction. There are long tailbacks of traffic.

It is not know how many vehicles were involved in the collision. The extent of the injuries, if any, suffered by the occupants of the vehicles is not known at this time.

A garda spokesperson said: "Gardaí and emergency services are currently at the scene of a road traffic collision that occurred near Patrickswell this afternoon, Wednesday, February 26."

They said as this is an ongoing incident, "no further information is available at this time".

There have already been a number of accidents on the M7 near Ballysimon and in Dooradoyle this Wednesday. Heavy intermittent rain showers have been falling since early this morning.

READ MORE: One person hospitalised in multiple-vehicle collision in Limerick

An Garda Síochána, supported by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and other stakeholders, is conducting a National Slowdown Day today. It runs for 24 hours from 00:00 to 23:59 this Wednesday.

Members of An Garda Síochána, along with GoSafe Mobile and Static Safety Cameras, have detected a total of 106 vehicles travelling in excess of the applicable speed limit nationally.

A garda spokesperson said they conduct a number of high profile National Slow Down Days every year.

"The aim is to remind motorists of the dangers of speeding, encourage a national conversation on the impact of speeding, to increase overall compliance with speed limits in place nationwide and to deter and detect those that are intent on driving at excessive or inappropriate speed," said a garda spokesperson.