Ten killed on roads so far this year

TEN PEOPLE have been killed on the State’s roads since the beginning of the year – six more than over the same period last year.

The figures released by the Garda yesterday include four pedestrians, one motorcyclist, one passenger and four drivers. The Road Safety Authority said pedestrians and motorcyclists were among the most vulnerable road users.

Gardaí are seeking witnesses to a fatal crash in Derryadd, Killeigh, Co Offaly, on Wednesday night in which a car struck a fence. A 17- year-old male driver was pronounced dead at the scene. A male passenger received minor injuries.

Among the other road fatalities was a 19-year-old woman who was injured when her car left the N81 near Tallaght, Co Dublin, on January 8th. She died at Tallaght hospital on Wednesday.

The high number of fatalities comes as the authority claimed “road factors” were responsible for an average of 10 deaths a year. Chief executive Noel Brett said issues with roads acted as “a primary contributing factor” in the deaths of 12 people in 2008 and eight people in 2009.

He was supported by Fred Barry of the National Roads Authority (NRA), who said many of the State’s national roads still “do not come close to meeting current design and construction standards”.

He said the NRA would be happy to assist in any new forum which might be set up between agencies such as the Garda, the RSA, local authorities and the Department of Transport.

Such a forum was suggested at an Oireachtas Committee on Transport meeting on Wednesday.