Over speed: more than 1,000 drivers caught over the weekend

DUBLIN: More than 1,000 drivers were caught speeding over the weekend and will be fined by gardaí.

Gardaí said on Twitter that speeds of up to 170 km/h were detected, but most vehicles monitored were driving within the speed limit. 467 drivers out of a total of 116,000 vehicles monitored on Saturday were caught for speeding, and 544 out of 96,000 monitored on Sunday.

Minister for State Hildegarde Naughton had earlier announced that the fine for speeding will rise from €80 to €160 and the fine for using a phone while driving or not wearing a seatbelt will also double from €60 to €120.

The highest speeds recorded were 108 km/h in a 60 km/h zone in County Cavan and 154 km/h in a 120 km/h zone in County Kildare. The top speeds detected over the last two days included 90 km/h in a 50 km/h zone in Offaly, 131 km/h in a 80 km/h zone in Meath, and 170 km/h in a 100 km/h area in Cork.

A driver was arrested in Kildare after being caught driving at 164 km/h in a 120 km/hr zone. He was found driving without insurance and the vehicle was seized.