If the decline in road deaths in January continues for the rest of the year, the State’s roads will be the safest in the EU, according to a Fine Gael MEP.
Jim Higgins, a member of the European Parliament Transport Committee, noted the 38 per cent drop in the number of deaths on the roads compared to the first month of 2011.
A total of 13 people died in January, compared to 21 deaths last year.
“If we were to maintain these figures throughout the year, we would save 60 more lives in 2012 compared to 2011, which was already a record-low in terms of fatalities,” Mr Higgins said.
He expressed concern at the possibility that the number of gardaí on traffic duties would be cut.
“Nothing replaces the visual reminder of a Garda at the road side checking for speed and alcohol.”
Some 438 staff left An Garda Síochána or retired last year – twice the usual number.
Mr Higgins claimed the roads which now posed a “serious risk” were motorways, even though these remained statistically the safest roads.
“While they are the safest roads in the country, we need to redouble our efforts in terms of ensuring that all drivers know how to use motorways correctly.”
He asked that the Road Safety Authority, which is currently drafting its new strategy, examine the issue of learner drivers not being allowed to practise on motorways.
Mr Higgins said he was “deeply concerned” by the number of people driving up the wrong side of motorways by mistake - a phenomenon sometimes referred to as ‘ghost driving’.
“Clearly we need to look at some of our junction designs. Junctions 13 and 14 of the M18 at Ennis in Co. Clare need a complete overhaul. A ‘wrong way - turn back’ sign is not sufficient,” said the MEP.
A total of 185 people were killed on the roads in 2011, the lowest number of fatalities since records began 50 years ago. The previous year had until then 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.