Road safety Resources needed to stop carnage

MOTORISTS will welcome the news that the gardaí want to do something practical about improving safety on the roads, and not be perceived as merely cash generators for the Government in enforcing the Road Traffic Act.

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has made a submission to a special group within the Garda Síochána for resources to be made available to, among other things, reduce our unacceptably high levels of road fatalities and serious accidents.

The AGSI is concerned that there is a lack of support by senior Garda management for traffic units working on the ground. Too many of their units are working with too few members, in old vehicles and without sufficient computer and clerical support. It may surprise many people to realise that traffic accidents cost about 700 million annually, while crime costs account for 73 million.