15.07.2008

Gardai launch speeding blitz on hauliers

Gardai are set to target speeding HGV's and single deck buses in nationwide campaign, which gets underway on Wednesday July 16. Operation Go Cúramach, will focus on trucks and buses that break the speed limit. Five more similar operations will be conducted throughout the year. Gardai point to a 2006 Road Safety Authority (RSA) survey that found some 78 per cent of rigid vehicles, 65 per cent of articulated vehicles and 66 per cent of single-deck buses exceeded the speed limit on national roads in urban areas.

That survey also confirmed that some 58 per cent of articulated vehicles exceeded the 80 km/h speed limit on national secondary roads. The survey also found that 87 per cent of articulated lorries exceeded the speed limit on national primary roads and 69 per cent were above the limit on dual carriageways. Gardai have confirmed that its enforcement efforts will be concentrated national primary, national secondary and dual carriageways where there is known to be a propensity for speed related collisions.

"Very strong relationships have been established between speed and both crash risk and crash severity. It follows from the risk associated with speed that a reduction in driving speeds will make an important contribution to reducing the number of road traffic deaths and injuries," a Garda statement stated.



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