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Gardai will carry out National slow down day on Friday as they attempt to clamp down on speeding.

The operation will take place for a 24 hour period from 7am on Friday to 7am on Saturday.

The aim of "Slow Down day” is to remind drivers of the dangers of speeding and to increase compliance with speed limits.

(Image: Collins Photo Agency)

According to the Gardai a 1% reduction in average speed will bring about a 4% reduction in fatal collisions, and this is why reducing motorists’ speed is essential to improving road safety.

In 2016 there was 188 road deaths, marking an increase from the previous year.

The operation will consist of high visibility speed enforcement in speed enforcement zones as well as the delivery of a road safety message through the use of national, local and social media.

Gardai will also man display stands in key venues to provide road safety advice and distribute road safety leaflets.

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Government Departments, Local Authorities, Public and private sector fleet operators have been invited to participate in the initiative by circulating employees with the message to "Slow Down”.

Assistant Commissioner Michael Finn said: "We are appealing to the public to support our initiative to create an awareness of the dangers of excessive speed on Slow Down day.

"We are appealing to motorists to adhere to the posted speed limit, but also when conditions dictate, reduce your speed even further.

"We have been running this initiative since 2012 and every year thousands of drivers have supported it by not speeding, but there were still 927 detections last May.

"This represents 927 potential serious or even fatal speed related collisions. This year we aim for there to be no detections, to achieve this we simply ask every driver to obey the posted speed limit.”

Mr Finn added: "As of today’s date there has been fewer road fatalities compared to last year, but we can never be complacent and say the job is done.

"Excessive or inappropriate speed is still a major factor in road traffic collisions, along with many other causes."