An Garda Siochana are renewing their road safety message and calling on all road users to put safety first over this Bank Holiday period.
Following 4 deaths in the last 24 hour period An Garda Siochana are urging people to exercise caution on our roads.
Speaking today Assiatant Commissioner John O Mahoney, Head of the Garda National Traffic Bureau, extended his sympathies to the families and friends of those who lost their lives and asked everybody who uses our roads to take into consideration all road conditions including the weather and the presence of large volumes of holiday weekend traffic.
Assistant Commissioner John O Mahoney added that "Road Safety is everybody’s concern and by working together we can make the roads safer for all road users”.
Previous press release listed below, refers,
Garda Press Office
Bank Holiday Press Release June 2012
Road Safety Message /National Events Traffic Management Plans
Fatalities, as a result of road traffic collisions have decreased year on year, resulting in an historic low of 186 fatalities in 2011. We have come a long way, but still 69 people have been killed so far this year. There is always room for improvement and none of us can ever be complacent about road safety.
As we head into the June Bank Holiday we know that there is still a considerable level of non-compliance of traffic laws. During the first quarter of 2012, fixed charge notices were issued to 56,289 drivers for speeding, 3,429 to people for not wearing their seatbelts. 3,266 people were prosecuted for drink driving offences, and 1,018 people were prosecuted for driving dangerously on our roads. This high risk behaviour results in fatal and serious injury collisions each year. Preliminary results of investigations indicate that 9 people who have died to date this year were not wearing a seatbelt and 40 people were killed in a single vehicle collision, often late at night, with inappropriate speed also contributing to many of these collisions.
With this in mind, this June Bank Holiday period An Garda Síochána is appealing to all road users to take extra care when using the roads. There will be an increase in traffic as many will be travelling to different parts of the country. The school holidays will also be commencing for secondary school children, so we appeal to all motorists/ motorcyclists to slow down, always wear their seatbelts, wear the appropriate safety clothing at all times, be well rested and never ever drink and drive.
In particular, people need to be conscious of the new lower drink driving limits, especially those that are specified drivers, when they are at BBQ’s, festivals, sporting events and concerts etc. The EURO Championships will also be starting very soon and there will be many people watching the coverage in various locations around the country. We appeal to all motorists to make the right choice. If you intend to drink alcohol, leave your vehicle at home. Remember this also the following morning, and ensure you are alcohol free to drive. We also appeal to pedestrians to make sure they can to be seen, and keep safe when out socialising.
Assistant Commissioner John O’Mahoney said today:-
"We are nearly at the half way point in the year and already 69 people have tragically died on our roads. It is 4 less than this period last year. People are making good use of the fine weather, so if you are socialising at a BBQ or a friend’s house and there is alcohol being served please remember alcohol impairs your driving. If you intend to drive home, don’t drink alcohol. Always do it right not only on the night, but also the morning after. We also remind people that there will be considerable Garda enforcement in place over the Bank Holiday period. We ask people to always remember not only their safety, but every other road user’s safety too. Between 2006-2011, 29 people were killed, and 63 were seriously injured on Irish roads over the June Bank Holiday period. Whatever type of road user you are, never take a risk on the road- it’s just not worth it”
Noel Brett, CEO, Road Safety Authority had this message for road users, "Bank holiday weekends are high risk periods on our roads. With good weather forecast for the weekend large numbers are expected to take to the roads. Do not become complacent - remember that summer is the most dangerous time on the road. Share the road responsibility and arrive alive.”
"Road users need to redouble their efforts to stay safe on the roads. If you are travelling to an event or travelling to another part of the country plan your journey, allow lots of time, drive at an appropriate speed for the conditions and traffic volumes, and take regular breaks. Ensure that everyone in the vehicle is wearing their safety belt and that all children are in a suitable safety seat. Never drive having consumed alcohol or drugs and never ever take a lift from a driver whom you know has consumed alcohol or drugs. I appeal to all drivers to watch for out cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians. A special plea to all motorcyclists to ensure that they wear a full set of high quality personal protection equipment including a helmet, gloves, boots, leather’s and ensure that you are visible to other road users.” concluded Mr. Brett.
June Operation Bank Holiday 2011
Friday 3rd June – Monday 6th June 2011 (4 days inclusive)
Detail 2011
Fatalities (people) 1
Fatal collisions 1
Serious injuries (people) 12
Serious injury collisions 8
MAT Checkpoints 1,229
MAT Breath tests 13,572
Intoxicated while driving 198
June Bank Holiday 2006 - 2010 (4 days Fri – Mon)
2006 – Fri 2nd June – Mon 5th June
2007 – Fri 1st June – Mon 4th June
2008 – Fri 30th May – Mon 2nd June
2009 – Fri 29th May – Mon 1st June
2010 – Fri 4th June – Mon 7th June
Year Fatalities Fatal Collisions Serious Injuries Serious Injury Collisions
2006 7 7 10 9
2007 4 4 17 12
2008 9 6 10 3
2009 5 5 8 4
2010 3 3 6 3
Total (5 years)
28 25 51 31
Offences detected 1st January to 31st March 2012
Driving while intoxicated incidents 3,266
MAT Checkpoints 25,484
Total breath tests at MAT checkpoints 160,566
Dangerous Driving 1,018
Speeding - intercept 10,984
Speeding - non intercept 45,305
Speeding - total 56,289
Seatbelts 3,429
The 69 road deaths to date are broken down into the following road user category:-
• 11 Pedestrians
• 39 Drivers
• 4 Passengers
• 6 Motorcyclists
• 2 Pillion Passengers
• 5 Pedal Cyclists
• 2 "Other”
There will be many national and local events happening around the country to include concerts, festivals, shows and exhibitions. There may be significant traffic restrictions and diversions in place to ensure the smooth running of these events. For those that intend to travel to any of these, we ask that they plan their route, leave in plenty of time, check where parking is provided (if any) or preferably use public transport. Please follow all instructions by the Gardai and Organisers. This will make the event more enjoyable for all.
Assistant Commissioner O’Mahoney continued:-
"There are many local and national events happening all around the country over the next few days, e.g. the Bavaria City Racing in Dublin City, Cats Laugh comedy festival in Kilkenny, Bloom in the Phoenix Park, 2 Croke Park fixtures, the Women’s Mini Marathon in Dublin and City Marathon in Cork. We want people to enjoy themselves, but make the necessary arrangements to get there safely and get home safely. Traffic movement may be affected, so plan your journey using as much information as possible from each organiser’s website etc. The best way to get to these events is to use public transport as much as possible.”
National and Local events include the following:-
Olympic Torch Run 6th June
Women’s Mini Marathon Dublin 4th June
Cork City Marathon 4th June
Croke Park Double Header 3rd June
"Avicii” Charity Disco O2 3rd June
Bavaria City Racing 3rd June
Blooms in the Park Festival Phoenix Park 31st May- 4th June
Forbidden Fruit Festival Royal Hospital Kilmainham 2nd-4th June
Dublin Fire Brigade 150th Anniversary Parade 2nd June
Ireland Bike Fest Killarney 1st-4th June
Kinsale Point to Point 2nd-3rd June
Tri-Athy Triathlon 2nd-3rd June
Sky Road Race 10k Challenge Clifden 3rd June
Donegal Links Challenge 4th-6th June
Big Red Bike Ride 9th-16th June (Mizen to Malin Head to Dublin)
Tattersalls International Horse Trials and Craft Fair 31st May- 3rd June Fairyhouse, Co. Meath.
Ballyhaunis Summer Festival 30th May-4th June
Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival Ballyshannon 31st May- 3rd June
Regional Finals Rose of Tralee Portlaoise 30th May-4th June
All Ireland and International Sheep Shearing Championship Punchestown 2nd-3rd June
Innishannon Steam and Vintage Rally Cork 3rd-4th June
Clancy Brothers Music festival Carrick on Suir 1st-3rd June
Ocean to City Maritime Festival Cork 1st-10th June
Strawberry Festival Enniscorthy 1st-3rd June
Leixlip Festival 2nd-3rd June
Bandon Music Festival 1st-3rd June
Carrickmacross Festival 1st-4th June
Rosscarberry Festival by the Sea Cork 4th-5th June
Feile Spideal 3rd June
There will also be horse racing at the following locations:-
• Ballinrobe 29th May
• Punchestown 30th May
• Clonmel 31st May
• Tramore 1st -2nd June
