GARDAÍ HAVE SAID one of the motorists they stopped during their Christmas road traffic enforcement operation was travelling at more than 200 km/h per hour in a 100 km/h zone near Limerick city. 

The incident is one of many the force has released details of as it releases an update on its month long operation targeting speeders and other offences on Irish roads. 

The operation started on 1 December and runs until 5 January. In a statement a garda spokesperson said that during the fourth week of the initiative there were three fatalities in road crashes and eight serious collisions in which people suffered serious injuries.

Over the past week, gardaí carried out nearly 2,100 checkpoints, to test for drink and drugs as well as high-visibility policing checkpoints.

During that time they arrested, nationwide, 149 people for driving while drunk or under the influence of drugs. 

More than 4,600 drivers were caught speeding by gardaí on patrol or by static cameras.

The force said that some of the noticeable incidents saw one motorist travelling at 118 km/h in a 50 km/h zone on the North Circular Road, Dublin 7.

They also caught another motorist doing 140km/hr in a 60 km/h zone on the N15 in Mullandrait, Stranorlar, Co Donegal. The fastest was 207 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on the N18 in Ballinacurra (Weston), Co Limerick.

More than 435 vehicles were seized by Gardaí for a range of offences under the Road Traffic Act, 1961.

They issued around 150 Fixed Charge Notices were issued for the offence of using a mobile phone while driving and approximately 45 Fixed Charge Notices were issued for seat belt offences.

“The Christmas period is one of the busiest on Irish roads. 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, 189 people have lost their lives in road traffic collisions on Irish roads.

“An Garda Síochána is appealing to all those who will be taking to the roads over the Christmas period to slow down, take extra care and to give your driving your full attention,” a spokesperson said.