Garda campaign to target young drivers

SHOCKING driving statistics are prompting gardaí in Cork city to launch a campaign aimed at making young people safer drivers.

Inspector Pat Lehane highlighted the fact that in the first two months of this year, five people died in accidents in the city and suburbs, compared to two for the comparative period in 2005. Nationally, 82 people have lost their lives on roads so far this year.

Astonishingly, speeding offences are up a massive 82% from 447 over the first two months of 2005 to 1,259 so far this year.

Drink-driving arrests remain relatively static at 102, only up two on 2005.

The Cork City Divisional Traffic Corps are to hold a special roadshow at Ashton Secondary School on Blackrock Road on Friday, March 24 from 10am to 7.30pm.

“We will be putting on display a wide variety of the equipment we use. In addition, we will also be putting on road safety presentations and showing dangerous driving incidents which have been picked up on cameras used in patrol cars,” Inspector Lehane said.

Students and adults will be able to see first-hand how an unmarked Gatso speed detector van works. They will also be shown traffic corps patrol cars, speed detector laser guns and breath testers for alcohol.

The roadshow will concentrate on pupils in the morning and the general public will be admitted from 5pm to 7.30pm.

“We want to show people what we do and why we do it. We are seeking the co-operation of the public to reduce death and serious injury on our roads,” the inspector said.

Garda are planning a second road show on April 21 at the North Monastery secondary school.