Gardaí have issued a fresh warning to motorists after a ‘tired, older driver’ was spotted travelling the wrong way on the M9 in Co Kilkenny.

Members of Thomastown Gardaí and the Kilkenny Roads Policing Unit responded to a report of a vehicle travelling in the wrong direction on the motorway, south of Danesfort, on Sunday night. Thankfully, the incident ended without a collision.

The driver safely left the motorway and restarted their journey on the correct side before Gardaí came across the vehicle parked on the hard shoulder.

The older driver, who Gardaí said was tired, was safely escorted off the motorway.

Sharing details of the incident on Facebook, An Garda Síochána said: ‘All is well that ends well, but another point possibly should be raised or at least a conversation started.’

Gardaí said most incidents such as this happen without malicious intent, but can occur when tourists unfamiliar with Irish roads or motorists who are less able to deal with the challenges of motorway driving use the network.

The force also raised the issue of older motorists and whether motorway driving is always the safest option for everyone.

‘For those of us, possibly in the Autumn of our driving career, are the particular challenges of a higher speed road, without usable hard shoulders, always the best option?’ the post asked.

Gardaí stressed that the point was not ageist, noting that there are 90-year-olds who have ‘exceptional reflexes and driving ability’, while acknowledging that some motorists may have lost some of their ability behind the wheel.

They also highlighted the dangers of tiredness, with fatigued drivers facing increased risks on motorways.

Learner drivers, who cannot use motorways, and tourists unfamiliar with the network were also mentioned in the Facebook post.

The force described motorways as ‘efficient but monotonous roads’ and suggested that, for some motorists, alternative routes may be a safer option.

‘Outside of the Motorway network, there still exists the Regional and National Primary routes which for some should be the option elected for,’ Gardaí said.

The warning comes in the aftermath of the devastating M9 crash in Co Kildare on August 16, when five teenagers were killed after the car they were travelling in entered the motorway travelling in the wrong direction and collided with another vehicle, injuring four.