Kingdom drivers urged to be wary over weekend

DRIVERS in Kerry have been urged to take special care during the August bank holiday, following a recent series of road deaths in the county.

Fourteen people died on the county’s roads in 2007 while 12 have, so far, been killed this year.

Kerry County Council road safety education officer Maria O’Regan appealed to people to take personal responsibility for their behaviour on the roads.

“Members of the public often become caught up in blaming the roads, the environment and the Government for the carnage,” she said.

“It’s about time we all step up and take responsibility for our own actions when it comes to road safety.”

More than 90% of all road deaths over the past five years in Ireland were a direct result of human error with primary causes being speed, drink driving, driver fatigue, inexperience and failure to use seatbelts and child safety restraints.

Young people are most at risk and five of the 12 people killed in Kerry this year were under the age of 20, including a four-year-old boy.

The latest victim was Shane Crickard, 20, of Ballyduff, who died after his motorcycle collided with a van near Causeway, on Monday.

Meanwhile, traffic promises to be heavy on Kerry roads during the bank holiday, with tourism interests hoping for a marked pick-up in a season that has been disappointing up to now.

The Caherciveen Celtic Festival of Music and the Arts is expected to draw the crowds to the south Kerry town, where a busy and varied entertainment programme has been organised.

There will also be heritage walks, theatre, arts exhibitions, children’s fun, a pub musical trail and lots of trad sessions.

Lovers of the outdoors will find plenty to do in Killarney where a ‘walk Killarney and Kerry’ programme offers different options for participants, from lake-level walks to trekking across the highest peaks in Ireland, with breathtaking views of the Kingdom.

Walks co-ordinator Jerry O’Grady said Sunday’s walk would be a Category A strenuous mountain trek, strictly for the experienced mountain trekker, experienced on high mountains and a with a high level of fitness.

It will take in the high peaks of Maolan Bui and Cnoc An Chuillan.