Gardaí urge caution on roads this bank holiday weekend

GARDAÍ are urging all road users to slow down, be vigilant, wear a seatbelt and never drive under the influence of drink or drugs this June bank holiday weekend.

During last year’s bank holiday weekend 298 people were arrested for driving under the influence and there were four fatal collisions in which four people died.

A total of 89 road deaths occurred up to the end of May and while fatalities are down by 18 compared to the same period last year, we cannot afford to be complacent, gardaí have warned.

Assistant Garda Commissioner for traffic, Kevin Ludlow, said of particular concern was that one-third of the people killed on the country’s roads were pedestrians and most were over 40 years of age.

“We are asking motorists to slow down at all times, particularly when approaching villages, towns or other areas frequented by pedestrians,” he said.

“We all have a responsibility to concentrate on the road, to ensure that the downward trend in fatalities and injuries on our roads continues – one collision is one too many,” he said.

This bank holiday weekend gardaí will be focusing on the enforcing of drink-driving, speeding and wearing of seatbelts, particularly by back-seat passengers.

The Garda officer warned motorcyclists to be especially careful with research indicating that most motorcycle fatalities occur over the weekend and during daylight hours.

And he said 40% of collisions involving motorcycles were single vehicle collisions, where the bike collided with a solid object or parked vehicle.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) issued a joint statement yesterday urging road users to take care as the number of agricultural vehicles using the roads increases over the summer months.

RSA research shows that 31 fatal and 47 serious injury collisions have occurred on public roads involving agricultural vehicles and other road users during the period 2004 to 2009.

Meanwhile, Irish Water Safety is urging people to take these three simple steps over the weekend.

* Swim where lifeguards patrol. All life guarded waterways are listed on Irish Safety’s website www.iws.ie.

* Check your life jacket. Wearing a life jacket will only save your life if you know it works.

* Supervise children on holidays. Drowning is fast and silent, which is why many parents do not even know it is happening.