Easter Bank Holiday Warning Issued

As the Easter Bank Holiday weekend approaches, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána have issued a joint appeal to road-users to be aware of the dangers of excessive and inappropriate speeding.

The appeal comes as figures reveal that in the period 2000 to 2011, 197 people were killed and seriously injured on Irish roads over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. Penalty point figures show that speeding remains the highest penalty point offence with 649,714 penalty point notices issued to motorists up to 31st March 2012.

Mr Leo Varadkar TD, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport called on all road-users to act responsibly on the roads this weekend: "The Easter Bank Holiday weekend is one of the busiest in the year with people travelling the length and breadth of the country. We are all aware of the dangers of excessive speed and the devastating consequences of speed-related collisions. I am asking every road user, be they drivers, motorcyclists, pedestrians or cyclists, to be extra vigilant about road safety over the bank holiday weekend."

Mr Noel Brett, Chief Executive, Road Safety Authority, said: "We know that every year, excessive and/or inappropriate speed is a factor in as many as 1 in 3 fatal collisions, yet some road-users continue to see speed limits as a target. Taking risks by driving at excessive speed is a choice, and the consequences of that choice can be utterly devastating to families, friends and communities. So make the right choice when you’re on the roads this weekend. Slow down, don't take risks on the roads and take your time getting to and from your destination – just one bad decision made in a split second could lead to tragedy and devastation."

Over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend and throughout the month of April, An Garda Síochána will be focusing their enforcement activity on excessive speeding through the use of the nationwide network of mobile safety cameras.

To date this year, 42 people have died on Irish roads, 12 less than the same period last year. Of these, 3 out of 5 were drivers and 1 in 5 were pedestrians. 42% of the people killed on our roads to date this year were aged 16-35, of which half were aged between 21 and 25.

(CD)