Major focus on speeding by Gardai on first National Slow Down day of 2022

Gardai say they'll be conducting high visibility checks on routes right across the country today as part of National Slow Down Day.

More than 1,300 speed enforcement zones will be monitored over the next 24 hours - with the operation due to end at 7am tomorrow.

The Road Safety Authority says almost a third of road deaths here in Ireland are caused by speeding.

Elsewhere,

Nearly 22,500 people got penalty points for holding a mobile phone while driving last year.

According to freedom of information figures, it's an increase of 8 per cent on 2020.

Over 1,000 penalty point notices were issued for the offence in five counties last year - Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wexford.