250 likely to die on roads from now to year end

AROUND 250 people will be killed on Irish roads between now and the end of the year.

That's a grim reminder of the level of carnage on Irish roads as the May bank holiday approaches and the National Safety Council (NSC) again urges people to avoid such largely preventable slaughter.

Last year's May bank holiday was the blackest period on Irish roads in 2003 17 people lost their lives in horrific traffic collisions over six shocking days.

Last week, the council began screening a new, 30-second TV commercial in the build-up to the weekend against the haunting background of the Manic Street Preachers track 'If You Tolerate This (then your children will be next)'.

The commercial opens with scenes of roadside memorials dedicated to people who lost their lives following collisions, as well as showing heart-breaking scenes taken from other NSC commercials still being screened.

NSC chief executive, Pat Costello, said some people underestimated the risks they took driving on Irish roads and were over-confident about the risks they took.

So a mistake or lapse of concentration could suddenly turn an ordinary, everyday situation into one of life or death.

"Our own road behaviour will ultimately determine if we survive to return to work, college, school or the home safely after the bank holiday," he said.

A total of 121 people have died on Irish roads so far this year, up 29 on last year an increase of 31%.

Last year, 339 people died on our roads and those statistics suggest that a further 250 people will set out on a journey between now and the end of the year but will never make it home alive.

This year's figures also show that more drivers and passengers are being killed the number of pedestrians and motorcyclists dying remains largely unchanged from last year.

The NSC's communications' officer, Brian Farrell, said the message was clear drivers had to slow down to reduce their chances of being involved in a collision and to increase their chances of surviving one.

"We have not had a good start to the year the figures are pretty grim, but we can still make a difference. It's not too late we can still turn this around by simply changing our road behaviour," he said.

"It is awful to even think about it now but the reality is that upwards of 250 people will set out on a journey and never make it home."