Warning to motorists about Easter road deaths

More than 20 people died in Easter holiday road crashes over the past five years.

More than 20 people died in Easter holiday road crashes over the past five years.

Figures released by the Garda Síochána yesterday showed that from 2001 to 2005, 21 people lost their lives in 19 holiday collisions. A further 538 were left with serious injuries.

With the Easter bank holiday weekend approaching, the National Safety Council (NSC) cited the figures to impress on road-users the need to take extra care over the coming days.

"To avoid a repeat of this needless loss of life, I would urge all road-users to take great care and show consideration for others when using the roads this Easter," said the NSC's acting chief executive Noel Brett.

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"Using the roads is the most dangerous thing we do every day. We forget this and underestimate the risks we face on the roads. These risks are greatly increased over bank holiday periods.

"It's a time when the roads are busier than normal, with people taking short breaks and vulnerable road-users such as walkers, cyclists and bikers taking to the roads in greater numbers."

He advised drivers to keep to an appropriate speed, not to drive while impaired by alcohol, drugs or fatigue, to insist on the wearing of seatbelts and to take frequent breaks.

Meanwhile, road safety initiatives were announced in Mayo and Donegal yesterday. A special "Blessing of the Roads" ceremony will take place during Masses and services throughout Co Mayo on Easter Sunday.

The ceremony, at all Catholic and Church of Ireland churches in the county, was conceived by Noel Gibbons, road safety officer with Mayo County Council.

"The Blessing of the Roads ceremony takes places in parts of Australia each year to raise local awareness of road safety, and we are bringing it to Mayo this year," said Mr Gibbons.

Fifteen people were killed on Mayo's roads last year, while two have died already this year.

In Co Donegal, two stages of the Circuit of Ireland International Rally due to be held this weekend near the scene of a number of road fatalities have been cancelled.

A stage due to finish near Cross, Quigley's Point, where five young people lost their lives last October, and a stage at Gráinne's Gap, Muff, where three others died in 2004, have been cancelled.

The event's liaison officers have visited a number of families bereaved by road deaths in the Inishowen peninsula, Derry and Tyrone to allay their fears ahead of the three-day rally.

"This has been a major concern for us, particularly in Donegal which has seen so many fatal accidents in recent years," said rally director Declan McCay.