Counties’ road deaths nearly twice last year’s

THE number of people killed on roads in Cork, Kerry and Limerick this year is nearly double that for the comparative period for 2005.

A total of 23 people have lost their lives in 19 accidents since January 1. In the same period last year, 12 people died in 12 different accidents.

Inspector Billy Duane, who is in charge of the garda regional traffic corps, described the figures as a real tragedy and yesterday said a series of inter-agency checkpoints will be launched in the coming weeks in an attempt to cut down on the carnage.

Contrary to popular opinion, the majority of people killed were not non-nationals. Only one foreign car was involved in a fatal accident, albeit one which recently claimed the lives of four Polish nationals at Goggan’s Hill, Co Cork.

Drink driving arrests also make worrying reading. Over the last bank holiday weekend 62 people were arrested in the three counties on suspicion of being over the limit.

In the same bank holiday weekend last year there were 42 arrests, so this is an increase of 37%. Overall, compared to the same period last year, the number of drink driving arrests are up around 20%.

Insp Duane said there were a number of factors involved in accidents on roads in the region.

“Again it comes back to careless driving and drivers not developing proper skills. There is a lack of courtesy to other road users. Drink-driving, speeding, fatigue and defective vehicles are all contributory factors.”

He also revealed that more than 1,700 drivers in the region have been issued with fixed charge penalty notices since the beginning of the year.

He also said that in the coming weeks a series of roadblocks are planned all over the region, in co-operation with other agencies, to combat rogue drivers.

“We have a major problem with unlicensed hauliers, especially as a lot of their vehicles are defective.”

He said that checkpoints will be set up specifically to target these rogue drivers and warned that companies or individuals employing them to deliver goods are also in breach of the law.

“They are undercutting legitimate hauliers and it is important people who use them are aware they are committing an offence as well,” the inspector said.

In addition, he said that local authority officials and the gardaí would combine to stop trucks carrying waste to ensure they were disposing of their loads in a legal fashion.

“We will also be operating checkpoints with officials from the Health and Safety Association (HSA) and from Customs and Excise.”