Road deaths decline for fifth year in a row

FOR the fifth year in a row, there has been a decline in the number of people killed on the country’s roads.

During 2010, 212 people died in traffic accidents, 26 fewer than in 2009. The decrease in road deaths is even more significant when one considers that as late as 2005, there were 396 fatalities.

Last night gardaí issued an appeal to all road users to take safety seriously in 2011.

“We all have a responsibility to think about safety every time we use the roads,” said John Twomey, assistant commissioner for traffic.

“However, complacency is never an option when it comes to road safety and I want people to bear this in mind throughout 2011.”

The assistant commissioner said while the downward trend in lives lost was good news, there was a need for further focus on driver behaviour this year.

Mr Twomey also made reference to the network of Garda mobile safety cameras launched on roads in Ireland where fatal collisions have been found to happen as a result of inappropriate speed.

Meanwhile, a victim from one of the last accidents of 2010 was laid to rest yesterday.

Paul Carroll, 27, died along with his best friend and business partner Glenn Curtiss in a three-car collision outside Carrickmacross on Monday night.

The accident also claimed the life of five months pregnant Roisín Connolly, 38, and her unborn baby Catherine who were also buried in Co Donegal yesterday. Her husband survived the crash.

Paul Carroll’s funeral took place at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Kingscourt, Co Cavan.

“In the space of just a few minutes lives and families were completely shattered.

“Nobody deserves that pain,” Kingscourt parish priest Fr Gerry McCormack told the packed congregation.