THE CHAIRMAN of the Road Safety Authority (RSA), Gay Byrne, has welcomed what he called a change in driving culture, which he believes is the reason why 2009 was the safest year on Irish roads since records began.
It was confirmed yesterday that 240 people were killed in 2009. This was 39 fewer than in 2008, which was the previous record low. Last year’s figures were almost 100 down on 2007 when 338 people were killed in motor incidents.
The Republic now ranks sixth in Europe in terms of road safety by the European Transport Safety Council, up from 22nd just three years ago.
The road death statistics for 2009 means the Government has fulfilled its five-year road strategy target three years ahead of schedule. It had hoped the numbers of those killed would be under 250 by 2012. Mr Byrne said the road deaths statistics were a “rare good news story” in an otherwise bad year for the Republic.
“Everybody said our target was nonsensical and it would not be achieved, but we achieved it in 2009. I believe that most people in Ireland are making a special effort to drive more cautiously and more safely. I want to pay tribute to the decent people of Ireland who have changed their attitudes and their behaviour for the better. We truly have an emerging culture of road safety in Ireland. For that, credit goes to road users.”
Mr Byrne said most motorists were taking a different attitude to drink-driving, driving while using mobile phones, and wearing seatbelts, but there still needed to be a change of culture in relation to speeding. He expressed hope that the delivery of a State-wide network of speed cameras this year would make Irish roads even safer.
“When they come into operation and little tickets come through the letter boxes with the fines and the penalty points, that will be the first indication to a large number of people in this country that there are things called speed limits. They simply don’t believe that it relates to them.”
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey praised the work of the RSA and Garda and the “growing consciousness” of safety among motorists.
Gabriel McIntyre, chief superintendent of the Garda National Traffic Bureau, said: “We have to give the motoring public credit for this reduction.” The reductions would not have come about without this cultural shift, he said, complimenting young drivers in particular.
An increase in the number of gardaí in the traffic corps, new speed equipment and the introduction of mandatory testing checkpoints have allowed the enforcement of drink-driving laws and the change in the speeding culture. However, he added that the biggest problem on the roads was still speeding, with some motorists not allowing for changes in weather conditions.
Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy spoke of the actions of individual motorists as he reaffirmed his commitment to roads and policing through enforcement and encouraging people to adapt their behaviour.