Gardaí target young learner motorists in safety drive

GARDA checkpoints have been put in place near Limerick secondary schools as part of a safety initiative targeting young learner drivers.

The scheme, which was launched yesterday, will see checkpoints on approach roads and exit routes from schools across the Limerick region from now until the summer holidays.

The initiative, which also includes third-level institutions, will focus in particular on secondary schools because of the increasing number of teenagers driving to school, Inspector Paul Reidy from the Garda Division Traffic Corps explained.

“A lot of motorists are driving to school now, be it to third level or secondary school, and a lot of people need to be accompanied when driving in order to have their learner permit valid,” Inspector Reidy said.

“We will be running the initiative, in so far as is possible, every day right up until the summer holiday,” he continued.

According to Inspector Reidy the initiative is part of the overall Garda Policing Plan.

“We know that young drivers are particularly vulnerable when it comes to road deaths and that a higher percentage of young drivers are killed on the road in comparison with any other group,” he said.

“We have to do something to make sure that we try and lessen the possibility that young people are killed on the roads,” he added.

The Garda checkpoints will also be targeting a number of general road safety issues including, speed, safety belts and the use of mobile phones while driving.

“We will be targeting all of those issues and there is an onus on An Garda Síochána, I believe, to make every effort to ensure that young motorists out there are safe and that we do not fall down on our responsibilities,” Inspector Reidy continued.

Meanwhile. a meeting of the Road Safety Authority heard yesterday that up to 30 motorists per month are caught on camera approaching the new Limerick tunnel the wrong way.

New signage has already been introduced at the €660 million tunnel in an effort to stop motorists driving the wrong way on the motorway which opened to traffic last July.