An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) are appealing to the public to use the roads with care over the St. Brigid’s bank holiday weekend.
Data strongly indicates that the risk of a fatal, or serious injury road traffic collision is at its highest between midday and 3:00p.m on each of the four days of the St. Brigid’s Day bank holiday weekend.
The data further shows that a driver is most likely to be involved in a fatal or serious injury road traffic collision between midday and 3:00p.m on Friday, January 31.
Data collected by the Garda Analysis Service shows that drivers under the age of 25 are twice as likely to be involved in a fatal or serious injury collision during the hours of darkness.
The warning came just before news that in the early hours of this morning (Friiday, January 31), two men in their 20s were killed in a single car collision in Co. Carlow.
Two other passengers of the car, a male and female aged in their 20s, were taken to St. Luke’s General Hospital in Kilkenny with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward.
An Garda Síochána
An extensive Garda roads policing operation will take place throughout the St. Brigid’s bank holiday weekend. The operation got underway at 7:00a.m on Thursday January 30, and will run until 7:00am on Tuesday, February 4.
As part of the operation, An Garda Síochána will be focused on targeting the four offences that are proven to cause fatal and serious collisions:
- Intoxicated driving;
- Speeding;
- Using your mobile phone;
- Not wearing a seatbelt.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Seán Canney said: “A reduction in the default speed limit from 80km/h to 60km/h on local rural roads, which can be narrow and winding, is a step in the right direction towards tackling the unfortunate increase in fatalities we have seen in recent years.
“Reducing speed on these roads increases the time we have to react to an unexpected situation, such that any collisions that might occur will be less impactful.
“This is just one of the range of measures and actions the government is taking to make roads nationwide safer,” he added.
Storm Éowyn
Gardaí and the RSA are aware of the impact that Storm Éowyn is having on many communities.
They are appealing to all road users to exercise extreme caution on the road network, particularly in the affected counties.
Chief executive of the RSA, Sam Waide said: “We are asking all road users to stay safe this bank holiday weekend.
“Many roads are still showing the after-effects of Storm Éowyn and we ask people to slow down, particularly on rural roads, with wet and windy conditions continuing.”