Motorist clocked driving 121km/h in 50km/h zone among 13,573 caught speeding over Christmas

During this period, 17 people lost their lives while 85 serious collisions resulted in a number of others receiving serious and life-threatening injuries

.

Neil Fetherstonhaugh

A driver clocked doing 121km/h in a 50km/h zone on the N52 in Ardcroney, Co Tipperary was just one of 13,573 caught speeding over the Christmas period.

Gardai released details of their Christmas Road Safety Campaign that ran from November 29 to January 6 in a final update issued this morning

During this period, 17 people lost their lives while 85 serious collisions resulted in a number of others receiving serious and life-threatening injuries.

During the course of the operation, gardai also carried out over 9,973 checkpoints, both statutory Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) and regular, high-visibility policing checkpoints.

This resulted in 939 people being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Some of the speeding offences committed by 13,573 drivers who were detected by gardai and Mobile Safety Camera Vans operated by GoSafe were also revealed.

As well as the driver caught in Co Tipperary, anther was detected speeding at 101km/h in a 50km/h zone on the N3 in Virginia, Co Cavan

Another was clocked at 144km/h in a 60km/h zone on the N11 in Wexford, while one was caught doing 141km/h in a 60km/h zone on the R188 in Drung, Co Cavan

Other speeders included one doing 184km/h in an 80km/h zone on the R731 in Rathnure, Co Wexford and a vehicle travelling at 150km/h in an 80km/h zone on the R445 in Castleconnell, Co. Limerick.

Approximately 2,636 vehicles were seized by gardaí for a range of offences under the Road Traffic Act, 1961.

There were also approximately 1,311 Fixed Charge Notices issued for using a mobile phone while driving.

“This New Year period is extremely busy on Irish roads,” a Garda spokesperson said.

“It is also one of the periods during which road users are at the highest risk of being involved in a fatal or serious road traffic collision.

“To date, 174 people have lost their lives in road traffic collisions on Irish roads in 2024, and two in 2025.”

Gardai said they were appealing to all those who will be taking to the roads over the New Year period and as people return home and to work at the end of the week and early next week to “slow down, take extra care and to give your driving your full attention”.