The Garda commissioner has called on motorists to “face up to their responsibilities” and cut out reckless behaviour after eight people died on the State’s roads over the long weekend.
Speaking at Garda Headquarters in Dublin, Commissioner Fachtna Murphy said the number of road deaths was “unnecessary and unacceptable”.
Between midnight on Friday and midnight last night gardai dealt with 346 incidents of suspected drink driving. Eight people died over the same period, compared to three people during the same period last year. Seven collisions involved serious injury, while 72 incidents of dangerous driving were recorded. So far in March 21 people have died on the State’s roads, compared to a total death toll of 19 in March last year.
Total fatalities on Irish roads to date is 55 which is 13 lower than the total this time last year. Sixteen deaths last month saw February the lowest ever recorded road death toll for that month.
But Commissioner Murphy said in a statement this morning: “It is vital that individuals face up to their responsibilities and stop reckless behaviour which endangers themselves, their passengers and other innocent road users.
