Gardai issue road safety appeal as Limerick motorist is caught driving at 199km/h

A LIMERICK motorist was detected travelling at 199km/h – almost twice the speed limit – earlier this month, gardai have confirmed.

Details of the detection – on the N21 at Reens West, Rathkeale – were revealed as gardai issued a road safety appeal.

Another notable detection was made last week when gardai stopped a vehicle which was travelling at 200km/h between Castleisland and Abbeyfeale on the Limerick / Kerry border.

Kerry RPU speed check on main Castleisland to Limerick Rd detected motorist travelling at 200k in 100k zone. Driver arrested for dangerous driving and charged for court.

Driver put their own & others lives at risk by driving at such a ridiculous speed!#Slowdown #ArriveAlive pic.twitter.com/AGJo9fD8mI

— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) January 26, 2019

While there have been no fatalities in Limerick so far this year, ten people have died in accidents across the country in the past week – including four young men in a single vehicle accident in Donegal on Sunday night.

“An Garda Síochána is deeply saddened by the horrific death toll on Irish roads over the past week. I want to take this opportunity to send our condolences to all of those affected by these tragic events. An Garda Síochána views any road death as one too many and we will continue to work together with our partners in road safety to build on the reduction in road deaths evidenced over the past number of years,” said Chief Superintendent Finbarr Murphy of the National Roads Policing Bureau.

“While we welcome the reduction of fatalities that we have witnessed over the past two years, events over the past week demonstrate that we cannot afford to be complacent in any manner and I appeal to all roads users to be extra vigilant - in particular on dark evenings and while using unlit or poorly lit roads.  Be safe, be seen, be careful and be on the alert for other road users,” he added.

A message from @RSAIreland and @GardaTraffic https://t.co/ykt75az6Xk pic.twitter.com/Y5Wi1p8ByS

— RSA Ireland (@RSAIreland) January 28, 2019

Moyagh Murdock, chief executive of the Road Safety Authority is appealing to all road users to take care.

 “We have had a dreadful week on our roads. Ten lives lost, four alone in a single collision in County. Donegal. I hope that this appalling loss of life will serve as a reminder to us all that life is fragile and using the roads is the most dangerous thing we do each day. Nobody ever believes it will happen to them but tragedy can strike anywhere at any time on the road. We need to remember this every time we set out on a journey,” she said.

“I would appeal to road users to slow down, drive at the right speed for the conditions and watch out for vulnerable road users. Don’t drive when impaired through drink, drugs or fatigue and always wear a seatbelt and ensure passengers are wearing theirs too, no matter how short the trip,” she added.