Road death toll highest in 11 years

A TOTAL of 21 people died in road accidents in Kerry in 2006, the highest number since 1995, when the toll was 22.

Eleven people died on Kerry roads in 2005.

Chief Superintendent Liam Hayes, who has recently taken up duty in Tralee, has made road safety the top priority for gardaí in the county in 2007.

Since 2003, 7,326 people in Kerry have got penalty points, but only one has been disqualified, having collected 12 points, according to gardaí.

The Health and Safety Authority and gardaí are continuing with their investigations into the death of the latest victim, father-of-three John Carey, 45, from Killorglin.

He died after being struck by an ambulance near his home, at Tullig, early on December 27.

It is understood that Mr Carey was returning from a night out with friends in Killorglin and had got a lift part of the way home.

Meanwhile, Kerry publicans yesterday called for a Government-subsided system of rural transport.

While some publicans have been arranging transport for their own customers, there is a need for a properly organised transport system to cover rural areas of the county, according to the Kerry branch of the Vintners’ Federation.

Dingle publican John B Moriarty said such a system need not necessarily cost a fortune as the vehicles that could be used, such as school buses, were already in the community.

Also, many drivers in Kerry have heeded pre-Christmas warnings on road safety.

Checkpoints were set up around every town and most villages in the county, night and day.

Sergeant Kieran O’Connell, of the divisional traffic unit, said their campaign was also focussed on pedestrians and cyclists as well as drivers of vehicles.