Jim Higgins MEP for Ireland North West and Ireland's Member of the European Parliament Transport Committee has welcomed new figures released by the RSA which show that the number of road deaths in the county has fallen by 20 per cent so far this year.
Sadly eight people have been killed on Galway's roads for the first six months of the year. This compares to 10 people who lost their lives in the same period last year. Speaking at his Constituency office in Mayo where MEP Higgins was reviewing the figures, he said "Gardai cannot be in all places at all times, and so I want to thank the public in Galway for their cooperation in reducing this figure. Motorists, pedestrians and cyclists all share the road, and all have their own part to play, so credit where credit is due."
Nationally figures remain stable compared to last year, with an increase of just two deaths from 92 to 94 deaths for the first six months. "Last year was the safest year ever on Irish roads, with 161 people losing their lives, thanks to the work of the RSA and the public's cooperation. We need to make sure 2013 is even safer, and stop the bloody slaughter," said the FG MEP.
Mr Higgins paid particular tribute to the work of the RSA saying "Since the RSA was set up in 2006, the number of lives lost has been falling year on year. This has been due to a combination of driver education, hard hitting ads, better enforcement, new driving tests and licences, the NCT and penalty points. From being one of the most dangerous countries a decade ago, we are now the fourth safest country in the EU in which to drive - this is no small achievement."
