Government urged not to skimp on road safety

The Government is being urged not to skimp on the cost of road safety.

It follows a survey which revealed that three quarters of Irish people think there are fewer Gardaí on the roads.

The AA survey of 20,000 drivers, also found 40% thought road safety was not a priority.

The Assistant Gardaí Commissioner has admitted that garda numbers are down, including fewer members of the traffic corps.

However, the Junior Transport Minister Alan Kelly said there is 'no way' that road safety is being compromised.

"We've had eight consecutive years of improving the figures as regards the volume of deaths on our roads," he said.

"One life is too many, we will continue to work with the road safety authority and the gardaí to try and progress and make sure that as few lives as possible are lost

"But it certainly is and always will be a priority for this government."