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SEVEN MORE PEOPLE have lost their lives on Ireland’s roads this year, putting the country on track for a first rise in road deaths since 2004.
118 people have died on the roads up until 3pm today, 7 more than the same time last year. Overall, 162 people were killed on the roads last year, marking the lowest number that the state had ever seen.
However, after an August bank holiday in which five people died, the numbers have risen. Already this year, the number of motorcycle riders who have died, 17, has surpassed 2012′s whole year total of 16.
Garda chief superintendent Michael O’Sullivan said that the key factor was excessive speed.
“There is no doubt that excessive or inappropriate speed plays a significant factor in collisions, and in particular what happens to those involved. We know from our analysis that 4 out of 5 fatal road traffic collisions are occurring on roads with a speed limit of 80km/h or more.”
Up until the end of June, 95,820 had been caught speeding, while 4,542 had been caught drink-driving.
O’Sullivan said that the only way to reverse the trend, was for individuals to take responsibility.
“If we fail to work together and reverse the increase in fatalities showing to date in 2013, we could ultimately be facing an increase in road fatalities for the first time in eight years.
Every road fatality brings devastation and heartbreak to the families and friends of those involved.
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Slow down lads. No need for all of the single vehicle crashes that occur between midnight and 6am on most weekends. Think about the very real consequences of speed and/or intoxicants of any nature. A lifetime of regret for those left behind. The pain never fades.
The Gardai would want to get down onto the M50 and do some speed checks and check also for motorists using mobile phone. I never see a Garda car checking anywhere these days. Did we suddenly loose an entire traffic corp? No point telling people to slow down etc if they are not enforcing it.
I agree Gar, I’m 2 and a half years driving. In my first year I was stopped for insurance/licence no less than 11 times and a speeding camera fine (three points). In my second year, twice and now it is about 10 months since I was stopped. This shows to me a dramatic drop in the trend of Garda presence. I think that it is extremely unfortunate, I don’t think that the force is to blame but there can be little doubt that the less guards around the faster and braver and more careless people will become. I don’t know if people agree with this?..
Surely people have enough cop on (no pun intended) to drive safely and within the legal speed and/or alcohol limits. Every time any of us get behind the wheel – it’s our own responsibility to stay safe, no one forces any of us to drive at excessive speed and behave like idiots!! Stop blaming the Gardai, (who’s numbers have been steadily decreasing over the last few years) and grow up!
Its a disgrace people dont listen to the Gardai. Its like talking to a brick wall with some people.
The Guards are just a branch of the Revenue. No credibility.
I agree there job is to uphold common law not enforce policy’s which are set up to steal money from citizens thru fines …. Disgraceful
Less traffic corps on the roads , the fear factor is dissipating
And I urge the gardai to put on there lights and sirens while speeding thru intersections
They missed a girl on a bike by inches today while responding to a call
not discounting the fact that emergence vehicles are doing a job. they make a hell of a noise when doing so. people need to take note and know what is going on around them. duty of care goes both ways NO?
@steven
It would help if they made people aware there coming thru as was not the case today
Most if not all drivers make room for emergency vehicles that’s coming from somebody who has been driving 20 yrs
People only seem to increase speed after passing speed cameras
Sadly true. You think if I just passed the speed van /Guards sure I can drive on here now. They can’t be everywhere
Speed speed speed. Just a convenient excuse to collect revenue from unsuspecting motorists on roads with artificially low speed limits. The boys were out in force on the N32 yesterday monitoring a 60 zone. No reason this isn’t a 100 zone. Pathetic.
Love to know how many motorists there are in Ireland and what percentage of the driving population has been caught speeding this year
The real problem is the amount NOT caught speeding. Can I recommend trafficwatch? No point moaning about other peoples bad driving, stand up and do something about it. a mini dash cam only costs about a tenner. Once bad drivers realise it’s not only garda checks they have to watch for, attitudes will change.
A Tenner??? Where?
Matt
So what your saying is we need citizen rats to curb people speeding
Your idea is Orwellian you should be ashamed of yourself for suggesting it
Not sure how the law stands on dash board cams. In UK you cannot have one if it has a screen on the back. Now I don’t want to hear ” we are not in the UK” reply, it’s an observation as we copy much of their principles of law. It’s a good idea if they were made compulsory in state vehicles, buses, company cars etc. if you have not done anything wrong you have nothing to fear.
Why speeding? I seen 8 drivers on their phones while driving on my 15 kms trip home from work. Then there’s the drink drivers, and not to mention the drivers who just don’t even bother to look twice.
Dave
Spoken like a true Garda … How about a persons rights to privacy ??? I don’t break the law but I don’t support the idea of citizen snitches maybe in the uk it’s the norm
But this isn’t the uk Dave it’s a whole different country
I’ve no problem reporting dangerous driving, and have. I’m not going to put up with idiots putting my life or the lives of my family at risk. Nothing orwellian about it. as for “grassing”….bugger that, why cover for a pr!ck
Ah there we have Fagan the troll, wrong im not a Garda. The reason why dash cams were introduced (mainly in Russia) was to rule out any ambiguity post road traffic collisions . So what reasonable argument would you have not having them? Civil rights my arse. You complain about the laws you hide behind.
@ frank. Ebay, no screen on the back. Got one on my dash, and one in my helmet.
Funny Dave your the only person who calls me a troll Why do you think I’m a troll explain yourself
@ Matt
I have no problem with reporting dangerous drivers and a applaud you for doing so. But going around with a dash cam just doesn’t sit well with me and by the way you will have to go to court to give evidence which is leaving yourself open to reprisals … Think about that
Reprisals? You mean revenge? All the more reason to stand up to the selfish ignorant gits.
Yes revenge … Fair enough Matt fair play to ye
@ Dave … Waiting on an answer
@ matt… Cool ta.
Matt Connolly. Yea like the idiots on YouTube with cameras planted on their dashboards filming someone making a mistake yet themselves tailgating up the ar$e of that car to show the the reg plate.
Yeah I agree, iv to drive on the country roads of Donegal and iv met an oncoming car pass out 3 cars on a bend while he was on the phone! I get tailgated while under the speed limit in towns and out in the country, most people do their driving tests in built up areas, driving out in the country is completely different. Slow down and be more aware of what’s around you!
We need more revenue cameras out there.
Speed cameras. I meant speed cameras. Its all about safety, right?
people have no fear of the garda :( . GARDA start pulling drivers for everything. i’ve driven on the new stretch from blanch onto the m50 where it goes down to 30kph (a fooking joke of a speed) but the odd time i’ve seen the garda driving the same stretch there no doing 30 no one is doing 30. NO FEAR….
Public urge government to put gaurds out on roads in proper cars!
Good weather to blame!!!
I drove past the Garda doing 100 in a 80 and they never came after me…. And before you asked I slowed down after that……
What’s your point? Are you complaining you weren’t prosecuted. Why don’t you report yourself. Stupid post.
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