“Don’t let someone else take your life in their hands.”
Garda appeal to all road users: Make safety your priority this August bank holiday weekend
An Garda Síochána has mounted an appeal to all road users to consider their own safety and the safety of others this August bank holiday weekend. Gardaí are reminding all road users to play their part in the drive to improve safety on our roads.
Significant extra volumes of traffic are expected, as people move throughout the country over the long weekend. Gardaí are appealing to all those who use our roads to be vigilant and to keep safety at the front of their minds at all times. People should exercise peer pressure on friends and family members to persuade drivers to slow down in order to reduce fatal and serious collisions on our roads.
Three people tragically lost their lives on Irish roads during the August bank holiday weekend in 2009. To date in 2010, 116 people lost their lives on our roads, which represents a decrease of 20 on the same period last year (21st July, 2010).
Kevin Ludlow , Assistant Commissioner Traffic, said:
“There is no room for complacency among road users and I am personally appealing to everyone who uses Irish roads to make safety their number one priority this coming bank holiday weekend. We in An Garda Síochána are reminding all road users to exercise personal responsibility at all times.”
He added:
“I earnestly appeal to everyone who feels their personal safety is being put at risk by reckless drivers to exercise the necessary peer pressure to bring about a positive change in attitude and behaviour. Don’t let someone else take your life in their hands this bank holiday weekend. Let’s all play our part and work together to improve safety on our roads.”
All road users are encouraged to report any incidents of dangerous or reckless driving to TRAFFIC WATCH on 1890 205 805.
Assistant Commissioner Ludlow said:
“An Garda Síochána are seriously concerned about the 116 road fatalities so far this year. Some 70 of that 116 were in the 16 – 35 year age group,. The focus this bank holiday weekend will be on the enforcement of drink-driving legislation, speeding, wearing of seatbelts by all passengers and the use of mobile phones while driving.”
Garda Operations will include increased mandatory alcohol checkpoints, the deployment of Garda speed detector vans supported by mobile patrols and speed checkpoints.
The advice from Gardaí is that drivers should slow down and allow adequate time for their journey, in order to reach their destination alive and safe. It is critical in ensuring a safe journey that drivers and passengers, both front and rear, wear their seatbelts at all times. Never ever drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and never use a mobile phone while driving.
In 2010 up to 30th June, 261,568 vehicles have been processed through mandatory alcohol checkpoints, with 674 positive breath tests detected. In the same period 78,840 Fixed Charge Notices were issued for speeding offences and over 1.2 million vehicles were monitored by Garda speed detector vans.
During the August bank holiday weekend in 2009, 301 persons were arrested for driving under the influence with 1,761 speeding detections.
An Garda Síochána offers the following advice to road users:
Drivers and passengers:
Drivers should slow down, wear a seatbelt and never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Both front and rear seat passengers must wear a seatbelt and children must be seated in the appropriate child seat or booster seat for their age and height.
Don’t ignore the effects of fatigue, remember you must concentrate to a high degree 100% of the time. If you feel tired, break away from the road and stop in a safe place, then take a short nap and have a cup of coffee.
Don’t be distracted from concentrating on your driving by a mobile phone, satellite navigation system or what is happening in the car.
Be vigilant approaching areas where there is a high likelihood that pedestrians could be walking on a narrow footpath or at the side of the road, particularly during the hours of darkness.
Pedestrians:
· Wear bright reflective high visibility clothing at all times when walking on isolated and unlit, rural and urban roads.
· The wearing of high visibility clothing can dramatically increase your safety.
· We also urge all drivers to be extra vigilant for the presence of pedestrians on our roads.
Motorcyclists:
Check your bike thoroughly, particularly if it has not been used since last year, including brakes, tyres (pressure and condition) lights and suspension.
Motorcyclists should ride with caution and are asked to bear in mind the dangers of slow moving vehicles, changes in road surfaces and weather conditions.
Take precautions to ensure you are visible to other road users and be particularly alert when driving on strange roads.
If you are riding with a group of friends ride within your own capability – don’t let someone else dictate your speed and always wear a helmet, making sure it is properly secured.
Garda Press Office.
