Road fatalities at lowest level since records began

THE NUMBER of road deaths is set to stand at a record low level for 2011 despite the tragic cluster of fatalities over the past week, particularly pedestrians.

Of the eight people killed on the roads since the day before Christmas Eve, four were walking on the roads.

The most recent death was that of a 31-year-old pedestrian who died after he was hit by a waste-disposal truck in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, on Thursday morning.

Liam Curtin was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident occurred on the N28 Ringaskiddy road at about 7am between Shannon Park roundabout and Shanbally.

Mr Curtin’s death brings to 185 the number of people killed on the roads this year, the lowest number of fatalities since records began 50 years ago. Last year had been the lowest on record with 212 deaths.

The number of people killed on the roads has more than halved over the past decade with 411 people having died in 2001. The worst year for road fatalities was 1972, when 640 people died on the roads, marking a steady increase since 1961, the year records began, when 332 people were killed.

Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar said that while the figures showed Ireland was now one of the safest countries in Europe for road users, the Christmas period had been “very bad” for road safety.

“We’ve lost a lot of people on the roads, pedestrians in particular, and for the families of those affected, Christmas will never be the same again and my sympathies certainly go out to all of the people who have lost a loved one on the roads in the last few weeks.”

Speaking on RTÉ radio yesterday, Mr Varadkar said the introduction of new penalty points offences next year should improve road safety.

“We do know from penalty points in the past that they have been successful at changing behaviour and as a result lives have been saved on the roads and also serious injuries have been prevented.”

Motorists will face penalty points for a further 16 offences from next year. Penalty points will apply to offences including having faulty vehicle lighting, failure to wear crash helmets on motorcycles and for failure by drivers to ensure they have a proper view from a vehicle windscreen.

Motorists will also be penalised for placing babies in rear-facing car seats in the front passenger seat next to airbags and for overloading trailers.

Although some of the new points offences were already against the law, the application of points was more effective in terms of enforcement, Mr Varadkar said.

“The penalty points are actually already on the books they just haven’t been enacted yet and in many cases the penalty points apply to things that are already offences, but it’s much easier to enforce them as a penalty points offence rather than through the courts.”

Penalty Points: New Offences

Sixteen new penalty point offences include:

Using a vehicle from which driver has inadequate view of road and traffic

Windscreen not of safety glass or gives distorted view

Motorcyclist or passenger without helmet

Using vehicle not equipped with required lamps

Driver of car or goods vehicle not wearing safety belt

Permitting person under specified age to occupy a seat when not wearing safety belt

Permitting child over three years of age to travel in vehicle without being restrained by appropriate child restraint