Sunday, February 03, 2008

Road deaths at unacceptable level – Daly

Following the weekends tragic accidents, Ireland’s road carnage has reached unacceptable levels according to Athy’s Cllr Richard Daly.

As the death rate on our roads is fast approaching one per day it is time for further serious examination of our Road Safety Strategy.. With 30 deaths already on record for this year our carnage statistics will exceed our worst fears this year. It is estimated that the number who suffer injury can be ten times the fatality rate so a large number of our population have already suffered because of road accidents this year.

Road safety is a political issue but more importantly it is a personal issue

How horrific and graphic must advertising campaigns be before each of us realises the grim reality that they are aimed at us and not the other driver. So many of us still drive with excess speed and yet criticise the other driver who overtakes us. We still occasionally have to take that urgent phone call while driving but constantly bemoan the fact that so many other drivers are driving while using a mobile phone. In order to save lives there is an individual responsibility on each of us.

My most sincere sympathies go to every individual who has suffered loss or injury as a result of road accidents.

One month into a new year and we have a shameful record on our roads. Driver behaviour must change and it must change with each one of us.

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