’Too many people lost lives on Irish roads already this year’
TOO many people have already died on Irish roads so far this year, a senior garda said, as she urged motorists to slow down over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
Chief Superintendent Jane Humphries said the horror crash in Mayo on Tuesday which killed a mum and her two children once again demonstrates “the everyday dangers of using our roads”.
The Road Safety Authority said 54 people have died on our roads since the start of the year – which is 12 more than the same period in 2023.
They also revealed that 14 people have died and 70 have been seriously injured over the Easter Bank Holiday weekends in total since 2019.
Speaking yesterday, Chief Supt Humphries said: “The events of the last 24 hours once again demonstrate the everyday dangers of using our roads.
“Too many lives have been lost on Irish roads already this year. Bank
Holidays are a time for family and friends, sadly this will not be the case for the devastated families of young and old who have died on our roads so far in
2024.”
The top cop added: “An Garda
Siochana is and will continue to make every effort to reduce the harm that is happening on our roads, but this is a societal issue for every road user, pedestrian, pedal cyclist, driver; we need to work together to share and make our roads a safer place.
“An Garda Siochana continues to appeal to drivers to never ever drive under the influence of an intoxicant and for every driver to reduce their speed.
“An Garda Siochana wants no more tragedy on our roads over the Easter Bank Holiday campaign; use our roads safely and get home safe to your family this weekend.”
DETERIORATED
Minister of State at the Department of Transport Jack Chambers said if the current trend continues more than 200 people will be killed on Irish roads by the end of the year.
He said since the Covid-19 pandemic, driver behaviour has deteriorated massively and is contributing to the spike in road deaths.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Chambers said: “We know for example, drug driving is of serious
concern, the gardai have flagged that in many of the checkpoints.
Mr Chambers added: “I think there is an issue post-covid.”
Yesterday’s appeal also focused on cyclist safety and said nine were killed last year and 216 were seriously injured.
Research from the RSA found that 58% of cyclists seriously injured in collisions were aged between 26-55 years old and are most likely to be men.
The data also found 80% of collisions happened between the hours of 8am and 8pm with 62% occurring between Monday and Thursday.
The study also found over half of cyclist injuries took place in Dublin while three in 10 were injured at junctions.
The RSA also revealed they will be using “shock tactics” in some upcoming campaigns when asked if graphic road safety adverts would be returning.
The commercials were frequently shown in the mid-2000s and often showed the moment of impact and devastation it caused.
RSA chief Sam Waide said: “We’ve got a mix of campaigns which does include the shock tactics but there is a large number of road users that we know from research that actually don’t respond to that shock tactic approach so that’s why we’ve got a mix of campaigns.”
They also revealed that 14 people have died and 70 have been seriously injured over the Easter Bank Holiday weekends in total since 2019.