The RSA and Gardaí have issued a road safety appeal following the deaths of six road users in 24-hours.
Both bodies have urged the public to “take greater care on roads”.
Mr Sam Waide, CEO, Road Safety Authority, said:
“It has been a dark 24 hours on Irish roads which has seen an appalling loss of life.”
“Our thoughts are with the families of those who have been killed. These deaths should serve to remind us that everyone is at risk when using the roads.”
“We are at risk at any time of the day or week. Life is fragile, and using the roads is one of the most dangerous things we do each day; we must never forget this.”
Road safety appeal
He appealed to road users:
- Slow down;
- Drive at the right speed for the conditions;
- Watch out for vulnerable road users;
- Don’t drive when impaired through drink, drugs or fatigue;
- Always wear a seatbelt and ensure passengers are wearing theirs too, no matter how short the trip.
“This advice is all the more important given the fact that Met Éireann has issued weather warnings for heavy rainfall and possible localised flooding for today and this weekend.”
Assistant commissioner, Paula Hilman, Roads Policing and Community Engagement, An Garda Síochána said,
“Not only has it been a horrific 24 hours on the roads, but we are also seeing an increase in road deaths this year compared to the same period last year.”
“Road tragedies affect all parts of the country. Every fatal or serious injury collision has a devastating impact on family, friends and communities.”
“As we think of and send our sympathies to the families and friends of those who have been killed on our roads, I would ask every road user to play their part to make our roads safer and to think about their safety, and that of other road users.”
Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton, echoed the advice.
She said that roads are “much busier now that the country has reopened with many people travelling around the country on staycation”.
“While the government and public agencies have a responsibility to ensure the roads are made safer, as individuals, we must play our part too.”
New government road safety strategy
She said road safety remains a priority of this government. It will soon launch a new government road safety strategy, which will have at its heart “the elimination of all road deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 2050”.
“I wish to also extend my deepest sympathies not only to those who have been killed in the tragic incidents that have occurred on the road in the past 24 hours but to all those who have been killed on the road to date in 2021.”
A total of 92 people have died in fatal road traffic crashes to date in 2021.
Three more people have been killed on the road this year compared to the corresponding period in 2021.
