Gardaí warn motorists of major Bank Holiday blitz on Galway’s roads

GALWAY motorists can expect to come across a speed camera or a checkpoint this Friday as part of ‘Operation Slow Down’ – a 24 hour Garda ‘kick-start’ to a campaign aimed at reducing road deaths during the month of June.

So far this year, there have been 14 road deaths in the Garda Western Region of Galway, Mayo, Clare and Roscommon/Longford – seven of those occurred in Galway.

“Operation Slow Down, that runs from 7am on Friday morning until 7am on Saturday morning, is aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of excessive and inappropriate speed,” said Martin Cashen, Regional Traffic Superintindent for the Western Region.

He said that last year there were five road fatalities during the month of June in the western region – even a moderate slow down in speed would make a major contribution to our road deaths and injuries figures, added Supt. Cashen.

So far this year in Galway, there were two road deaths in the city area, two more in the Salthill Garda area and one each in the Tuam, Ballinasloe and Loughrea areas.

“With the onset of Summer and a holiday weekend, there can be a tendency for drivers to drop their guard. We are always wary of Bank Holiday weekends and the holiday period – this is why we are hoping that Operation Slow Down will increase people’s awareness of speed and road safety issues,” said Supt. Cashen.

“Motorists can expect to come across speed cameras, intercept speed units, mandatory alcohol checkpoints and high visibility patrols,” he warned.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.