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In the latest effort to cut down on driver speeding, gardaí in Kildare are placing a life size cut-out of a squad car on roadsides throughout the county.

The ‘car’ is made of wood and it carried out its first assignment last Saturday morning on the N78 at Fontstown, between Athy and Kilcullen.

From a distance, motorists see what they believe to be a garda car and react by slowing down, according to Declan Keogh, the county’s road safety officer.

The ‘car’ will be placed at various locations throughout the county with no notice given to the public about where it will be.

"Drivers should not get too complacent about the locations of the cut-out car because, if the car is moved to another location, a real Garda car may be parked in the same spot, carrying out real speed checks,” said Mr Keogh.