South Meath Driving School

In the first six months of 2009, 127 people lost their lives on the Republics roads. That figure is 14 deaths less than the corresponding period for 2008. But nobody is celebrating that fact. It’s good news that the statistics are favourable from the point of view that our roads are getting safer by the year, yet, for the 127 families who are grieving, there isn’t much solace. Those deaths categorized were 63 drivers, 21 passengers, 20 pedestrians, 19 motorcyclists and 4 cyclists. Male deaths accounted for 80% of the total and, again, one third of those were aged between 17 and 25. The highest risk time was Saturday night between 8pm and 8am.

The setting up of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) in 2006 has proved an outstanding success and our local minister, Noel, can take the kudos for his Departments delivery on that most important agenda. In previous years there was a high profile Garda crackdown at Public Holiday weekends and Christmas time. Here, the first of the three ‘Es’ was introduced – Education. The introduction of the road safety strategy made people aware of their responsibilities and a change in attitude and behaviour was wrought. Schools and the media were targeted and the RSA maintains a high profile in those areas. The driving test system was changed greatly with a much higher standard of training and testing.

Next, Engineering is the key: motorways and dual carriageways are by far the safest routes to take. Vastly fewer fatal crashes occur on those in comparison to winding country roads. The elimination of ‘black spots’, the introduction of traffic calming measures, road markings, warning signs and improved public lighting has played a large part in reducing death and injury.

Whatever about education and engineering, the third E, namely enforcement is vital where us humans are concerned. This was best demonstrated when the penalty points system was introduced in 2002. In the 12 month period following, road deaths fell by 19% while serious injury fell by 21%. Therefore, drivers took seriously the message that was pouring out through the media that a licence might be lost should the penalty points accumulate. Then something else happened: it soon became apparent that the enforcement levels weren’t there to the degree that was first envisioned, too many reverted somewhat to their old habits. This cements the idea that stricter enforcement pays off. As we have seen, it was revealed that more than half the speed cameras erected around the country had no recording data and so some carelessness was afforded, as it were. An area of enforcement that has returned large dividends was the introduction of mandatory alcohol testing. That really put the frighteners on the tippler who had driven to his local for the previous 50 years and always got home safely according to his word.

The effectiveness of the RSA must be maintained but they have taken a heavy knock with the withdrawal of their 3 million euro advertising budget much to the chagrin of one Gabriel Byrne who insists on trundelling on despite such setback. If you were at the Scurlogstown Fair in Porchyfields of late you may have paid a visit to the RSA trailer- stand there. It was a homely, userfriendly system of introducing to younger folk the world of driving on a public road. There were information leaflets available, simulators and plenty of interactive gadets to get the message of road safety across. So, pulling up on the budget of the RSA is most unwise when one counts the cost of a road crash at 3m euro a time to the State. Then count the human and emotional cost.

With all strands of the road safety strategy at work, the aim of reducing the annual road death toll below 250 by 2012 should bear fruit. Take care!