Insurers blame State for road carnage

FED-UP insurers are refusing to increase their contributions to the National Safety Council, saying the Government is not taking road safety seriously.

The Irish Insurance Federation (IIF) gave just €1.2 million to the council last year, despite its members sharing in record motor insurance profits of €329m. The organisation has not increased its annual contribution since 2001 and does not plan to give any more next year either.

The news comes after another black weekend on the country's roads, four deaths since Friday bringing the toll so far this year to 324. This month, 42 people have died, almost double the 22 deaths recorded during October last year.