Gardaí step up efforts to cut road deaths

GARDAÍ are out in force across the country this October bank holiday weekend in a major effort to curb road carnage.

On average one person has died on our roads every day this year.

A growing number of fatal road accidents happen at weekends, prompting gardaí to target speeding and drink drivers this bank holiday.

The checks are being extensively deployed not only on main roads but also secondary roads where many of the deaths are occurring.

This month has seen a sharp rise in road deaths. With 36 fatalities, the toll represents an increase of 14 on the same month last year. It is the highest October death toll since 2000 when 40 people were killed.

The latest victims were a cyclist and a pedestrian, killed in separate accidents in Cork city and Wexford.

Their deaths on Thursday brought to toll on the roads to 320 this year 11 more than a year ago.

Walter Eviston, 44, of Muckross Grove, Killarney, Co Kerry, died instantly when hit by a van at Monahan Road in Cork city on Thursday night.

Mr Eviston had only recently moved to Cork to take up a job in Ulster Bank and was living in the Ballintemple area.

The accident happened at 5pm on Thursday and gardaí are seeking witnesses.

Anybody with information should contact gardaí at Anglesea Street 021-452200 or Blackrock 021 -4357401

The pedestrian who died at Main Street, Clonroche, near Enniscorthy, was named as Hugh Dunne, 81.

Earlier this week the winter road safety campaign, Arrive Alive, was launched by the National Road Safety Council and the Garda Síochána.

The message Look Out! Stand Out! is aimed at vulnerable road users pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, a third of the total killed to date this year.

Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy urged the public to take extra precautions to ensure their safety during winter.

"This winter the watchword is safety. We need to think safety, drive safely, walk safely and arrive safely at our destinations."