Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 522: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the recent Garda Operation Slowdown; the number of motorists that were found to be speeding during the course of this operation; his plans to repeat the operation on an ongoing basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34576/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Slowdown was put in place nationally by An Garda Síochána with other relevant stakeholders, including the Road Safety Authority, for a 24 hour period commencing at 7 am on Friday, 6 July. The aims of the initiative were to raise general awareness of speeding and to encourage drivers to reduce speed at all times, not just for the 24 hour period of Operation Slowdown.

I am further informed that statistics are not yet available in relation to all detections made during the course of Operation Slowdown. However, changes in driver behaviour were evident to those managing the initiative. In particular, 75,000 vehicles were monitored by safety camera vans during the period of the initiative and out of this number 154 motorists were detected speeding. I understand that this is approximately 50% less than would otherwise be expected for a similar period.

While this particular initiative has concluded, An Garda Síochána continues to carry out speed enforcement initiatives and awareness campaigns to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on Irish roads.