The Road Safety Authority recently release a detailed county by county report on road casualties between 1997 and 2006. The report, released in advance of Irish Road Safety Week which begins on Monday, shows some unsettling figures for the country.
Over 18,000 people were killed or seriously injured on Irish roads over the 10 year period, 1997 to 2006. To highlight the importance of being safe on the road at all times, the RSA has announced an active local awareness campaign that will be taking place in counties across Ireland to promote Irish Road Safety Week.
Speaking about Irish Road Safety Week, Noel Brett, Chief Executive, of the Road Safety Authority said: "Every member of every community in Ireland has been affected by the tragedy of deaths and serious injuries on our roads. This week, we are asking people to think about road safety and how they behave on the roads. Activity is planned for each county across Ireland, all with a common aim - to work together to help reduce deaths and serious injuries on Irish roads. So we are asking everyone to get involved, find out what's happening in your town and take advantage of the services being offered to you during Irish Road Safety Week."
Among the activities planned for Irish Road Safety Week are:
Free five-point check for your car with Advance Pitstop, in association with the RSA. Advance Pitstop is offering motorists a car health check to include inspection of tyres, brakes, shocks, lights/levels, and wipers;
Driving tips from Specsavers in association with the RSA, urging locals to ‘Focus on Driving' during Irish Road Safety Week and help to raise raising awareness of the importance of eye care for drivers.
It’s great to see that the RSA is keeping up the hard fight. But at the end of the day the reality is still shocking. Between 1997 and 2006 some 380 people were either killed or seriously injured in the county.
And the fatality risk in the county is ever increasing. In Westmeath alone, from 2002 to 2006 the risk of fatality on the county’s roads increased by 63 per cent, according to the RSA.
Road safety is an old story, but one that needs to be repeated.
Young and old lives are being taken every day because people are making stupid decisions, whether it’s the decision to drive home tired, not to wear their seat belt, or to be distracted because they’re too busy on the phone. Not a day goes by that I don’t see someone swerving about the road while talking on a mobile phone.
So now that the mornings and evenings are getting darker, keep in mind that every journey can end in devastation, even the journey home.
