It has been another very busy week on the roads for Gardai in Laois.
On Thursday, it was a case of deja vu for Gardai in Portlaoise as a driver who had arrested last week – turned up again.
The driver was disqualified when detected driving a taxi – which was seized.
And now the driver appeared again, in a different taxi – but they faced the same outcome.
Gardai said: “A taxi driver who was arrested only last week for driving while disqualified in Laois returned to Portlaoise driving a different taxi.
“Same result for this driver however as they were arrested again and charged to appear before Portlaoise District Court.
“The vehicle was also seized.”
Earlier that morning in Mountmellick, Gardai stopped a driver who produced what appeared to be a genuine insurance disc.
But on inspection, this proved not to be the case and the vehicle was seized.
Gardai say: “Laois Roads Policing Unit on patrol on Thursday morning in Mountmellick stopped a vehicle and the driver produced what initially appeared to be a valid insurance policy to Gardaí.
“But after further enquiries with the insurance company concerned it transpired that the driver was in fact not insured. Vehicle seized.”
National ‘Slow Down Day’ was held over a 24-hour period between 7am on Friday March 26 to 7am on Saturday March 27.
In total, An Garda Síochána and GoSafe checked 150,605 vehicles and detected 994 vehicles travelling in excess of the applicable speed limit across the country.
In Laois, one driver was detected doing 137km/h in a 120km/h Zone on the M7 at Meelick in Portlaoise.
Speaking following the awareness campaign Chief Superintendent Ray McMahon Roads Policing Bureau said: “It is concerning that despite advanced warning and our widely circulated appeals to slow down that a significant number of motorists still failed to drive safely within the applicable speed limit.
“In the course of today’s campaign we detected a number of vehicles which were being driven at well in excess of the speed limit.
“If a pedestrian or other vulnerable road-user is hit by a vehicle travelling at such speeds, unfortunately the outcome will inevitably be a serious injury or fatality.
“I would like to thank our partners the RSA and TII for their co-operation / assistance in today’s campaign, and GoSafe who carry out speed enforcement on behalf of An Garda Síochána.
“Of course I would also like to thank the majority of those who continue to travel within the speed limits. I would reiterate once again that this appeal to slow down is not only for one day, but for every day.
“We will continue to maintain our focus on non-compliant drivers as they pose a risk to themselves and other road users.”
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