Road killers given a clear run this weekend
With all due respects to Joe Costello and the National Safety Council (NSC), their traffic policies make me wonder if they reside on the same planet as the rest of us.
Apart from a barrage of meaningless statistics and suggestions, backed by distasteful TV ads, what exact purpose does this organisation serve?
The NSC blames driver fatigue, lack of concentration, caffeine breaks and drunk driving, but these bear no relation to what is actually happening on our roads.
The two principal causes of our road fatalities are little or no policing, except for the occasional outburst of political propaganda, and the character of our dangerous driver who usually combines one or more of these traits: arrogance; aggression; bad manners and lack of driving experience.
Approaching one of the dodgiest weekends on Irish roads, 3,000 gardaí are plucked from our stations and deployed to Dublin. Consequently, our dangerous drivers have been given the green light to treat our roads like Mondello Park this weekend.
Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s latest election promise is an enhanced traffic unit, but this has already died for lack of resources.
Then he tells us of “legal obstacles” in the way of a dedicated traffic corps. Meanwhile Transport Minister Seamus Brennan remains “committed” to reducing the 30% road fatality increase on last year while Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy promises more garda visibility on roads.
It’s not happening. I spend eight hours a day on our roads and the reality is not a garda in sight. Until the Government addresses these statistics in a decisive manner, the slaughter of our young will continue.
In the wake of the senseless deployment of so many gardaí to the capital this weekend, ministers McDowell and Brennan should realise that there is life outside Dublin.
Kevin Jordan,
Village View,
Clashmore,
Co Waterford.
