THE GARDA has launched its Christmas road safety campaign with a specific appeal to road users to be mindful of hazardous weather conditions over coming weeks.
Assistant Garda Commissioner John Twomey yesterday warned that existing weather conditions with ice, snow, frost and poor visibility were particularly dangerous for “vulnerable” road users.
Met Éireann said showers of snow and rain are expected over parts of the country again today. Yesterday Tipperary, parts of Mayo, Sligo, Galway and Roscommon were all reported to be extremely icy while there was snow in parts of Leitrim and on high ground in Wicklow and elsewhere.
As of yesterday, 175 people had been killed on the Republic’s roads and while Mr Twomey said this represented “175 empty chairs this Christmas”, some 212 people were killed on the roads in 2010.
If the numbers remain below 200 over the next two weeks, the Republic is set to have another record low year for fatalities. The State is ranked sixth in a European Transport Safety Council league table for lowest road deaths.
However, there is considerable expectation that the Republic could move higher in the ranks of safe countries, should drivers take extra care this Christmas.
Chief Supt Aidan Reid said Dublin already had the title of safest roads among 27 EU capital cities, a feature which he ascribed to a targeted strategy over the last decade.
Some 300,000 fines were issued this year for the four most lethal road traffic offences: speeding; drink/drug driving; non-use of seat belts; and use of mobile phones while driving.
A Garda spokesman said while encouragement towards a change in driver behaviour was the preferred method, the strategy was to put in the enforcement to ensure that those who do break the rules are caught.
As part of the Christmas road safety campaign motorists are also being asked to check their lights and to switch off fog lamps when not in use. The imperative for drivers included driving within the parameters of the Road Traffic Act.
AA Roadwatch and gardaí also urged caution on secondary roads around Co Louth, while Tullamore and Birr in Co Offaly were also icy, as were secondary roads around Cavan town.