Neglecting roads is dicing with death

THIS country does not have a great track record when it comes to road safety.

It is not so many years ago that the carnage on our highways ranked among the worst in Europe. There is absolutely no question that the introduction of penalty points in 2002 played a key role in improving drivers’ behaviour.

Statistics show that the incidence of speeding and drink- driving dropped sharply in the aftermath.

Unfortunately, however, the number of fatalities has crept up in the past couple of years after more than a decade of steady decline.

It is important, of course, that motorists continue to be reminded of their responsibilities to both themselves and other road users. No-one wants to see a return to the dark days of the past.

Equally, the State also has a duty to the motoring public. Although we do not know the precise circumstances of the Co. Cork bus crash involving 52 schoolgoers, there is nothing at this stage to suggest that the driver did anything wrong.

Similarly, there is no indication that 81year-old Roger Grainger, the retired clergyman and actor who died in Co. Mayo, was at fault when his car went off the road.

But we do know that the standard of roads across much of the country simply isn’t good enough. Nor are drainage facilities up to scratch in many areas.

Given the torrential rain that has swept vast swathes of the country over the past few days, it seems highly likely that the two factors mentioned above were at the very least contributory factors to both crashes.

The fact that Mr Grainger lost his life in such tragic circumstances is, of course, shocking enough in itself. But the simple truth is that there could just as easily have been dozens of young lives lost in Cork.

The emergency services deserve huge credit for their role in the rescue operation. But there is a strong case to be made that this accident might never have happened if the roads and ancillary services were in better shape.

It is to be fervently hoped that we don’t see something similar happening again. But if it does, the outcome could be unimaginably more grim.

And if that happens, the Government will have blood on its hands – unless if starts putting some much-needed resources into upgrading basic infrastructure.