The latest figures show that 125 people have already died on Ireland’s roads this year, 25 more than the same period last year, reports RTE.
Garda Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing Paula Hillman said 11 people had died on the road in the past six days which has “been one of the most tragic weeks on the roads for a very long time”.
Two grandparents and their three-year-old grandson were killed in a single-vehicle crash near Cashel, Co. Tipperary on Tuesday and a three-year-old girl was killed in a separate crash in Co Laois yesterday.
Speaking to Claire Byrne on RTÉ’s Today programme, Ms Hillman said there were many factors which led to the clash.
“Speed limits are not targets. They’re there as a guidance but also take into account the road and weather conditions,” reports RTE.
She said police officers identified more than 1,700 people over a bank holiday weekend, with one driver speeding 200km/h.
Ms Hillman said driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, being distracted or not wearing a seatbelt were “are the key things that cause road traffic collisions”.
“Unfortunately, we see in terms of fatalities, one in five have not been wearing their seatbelt. For us, yes, there is the offence of using your mobile phone while driving but also people can be distracted by something else in the car, they can be distracted by something outside. And we are starting to see people, and we have seen it, people FaceTiming, watching TV as they’re driving as well,” she said, reports RTE.
“Driving is one of the most serious things that we do in life and we take it for granted. We get behind the wheel of a car and we go wherever we’re heading. But it is one of the most important things we do in life in terms of looking out to come home safe and ensure that other road users are safe as well,” Ms Hilman added, reports RTE.
Transport Minister Eamonn Ryan describes recent road accidents as “heartbreaking” and said the government must respond to the overall increase in the number of deaths.
The most important response, he said, would be to adopt an approach that minimizes the risk of collisions by limiting unnecessary and inappropriate overspeeding.
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