'Speed' the main focus on first National Slow Down day of 2023

Drivers are being warned gardai are out in force this morning for the next 24 hours as part of National Slow Down Day.

156 people died on the country's roads last year - the highest number since 2016

The aim of this operation is simple - to get drivers to slow down.

Road deaths increased last year and this January saw the highest number of fatalities for that month in 10 years with 20 deaths

Gardai say around one third of collisions are caused by speeding

In 2022 around 7 in 10 crashes happened on rural roads where the speed was more than 80 kilometres.

Gardai say there will be a lot of enforcement on the roads over the next 24 hours to remind people about the dangers of speeding to families and communities .