Garda chief's concern with rise in holiday road deaths
Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy today said he was concerned road deaths over the St Patrick’s weekend had more than doubled this year.
Eight people were killed in crashes around the country between Friday and midnight on Tuesday, up significantly from three deaths over the same period last year.
Commissioner Murphy said he was disappointed by the rise and again urged drivers to take responsibility for their behaviour on the roads.
“It is vital that individuals face up to their responsibilities and stop reckless behaviour which endangers themselves, their passengers and other innocent road users,” he said.
The latest Garda figures for the holiday weekend revealed there were also:
:: Seven road crashes involving serious injury
:: 346 cases of suspected drink driving
:: and, 72 incidents of dangerous driving.
The eight deaths over the weekend holiday period brings to 55 the number of people killed on the roads already this year, which is down 13 on the same period last year.
Commissioner Murphy said the number of people being killed in car crashes was both unnecessary and unacceptable.
“The vast majority of road traffic collisions, deaths and injuries, are preventable,” he said.
“Therefore we ask people to take responsibility for their own actions and behaviour. We ask them to slow down and take care on our roads.”
