Tragically 39 people have died on Irish roads so far this year. For the upcoming Easter weekend Garda resources will be deployed with the aim of increasing compliance among road users and improving road safety.
Motorists are advised that inappropriate speed is the single greatest contributory factor to road deaths and serious injuries.
Drivers are urged to slow down and to remember that a speed limit is a legal maximum not a target, and that it may not be appropriate when other conditions are taken into account such as road type, weather conditions, traffic volumes, etc.
During this holiday period resources will be concentrated on those continuing to exceed speed limits on Irish roads.
Drivers are urged to be vigilant and to take all necessary steps to ensure their safety and the safety of other road users. Drivers should give plenty of time for journeys and not drive if they are tired. Drivers should pay attention to the speed limit signs posted on all roads but especially on entering built up areas.
Over the Easter Bank Holiday period of 2009 the following were recorded: 296 incidents of driving while intoxicated, 2,186 incidents of speeding, 208 incidents of non use of seatbelts, and 281 incidents of driving while holding a mobile phone.
The dangers of speeding will again be addressed towards the end of April as a European wide operation is scheduled to take place aimed at detecting speeding offences. This operation will run from April 19 to April 25 and Garda enforcement activity will be conducted on sections of the road network that have a propensity for speed related collisions and will target all vehicles, including commercial vehicles of all classifications.
From April 2 to 5 a drink driving enforcement operation called Operation Surround will take place. The operation will involve both traffic corps and local district resources. During each night of the operation a major town or centre in each division will be selected for intense Garda attention. Mandatory alcohol testing checkpoints will be set up for the purpose of monitoring drink driving behaviour.
From April 12 to 16 An Garda Síochána and transport and standards officers from the Road Safety Authority will conduct an operation focusing on the enforcement of road transport legislation. The operation is designed to achieve greater compliance with both national and European road transport legislation by the road haulage industry. Offences such as speeding, vehicle standards (inclusive of trailers ), drivers’ hours, dangerous loading, and document offences will be targeted.
Motorists are asked to be conscious of cyclists and pedestrians using the roads.
