The coroner for south Kerry has appealed directly to the general public to "slow down". Too many people were dying on Kerry roads, coroner Terence Casey said yesterday.
Mr Casey was speaking at the inquest into the death of Andrew Tattershall (22), Iveragh Park, Killorglin, who died after his car went out of control and crashed headlong into another vehicle at Tinahalla on the N70 Milltown to Killorglin Road last October.
The inquest in Killorglin heard the small Peugeot 106 car driven by Mr Tattershall had been fitted with alloy wheels which were wider and lower profile than standard wheels.
However, one of the alloy wheels lay punctured in the boot and it had been replaced with a standard steel wheel.
Evidence was also given of speed.
Garda forensic collision inspector James O'Brien said the replacement wheel on the front of the vehicle was excessively worn and was in fact "bald". He said it was a contributing factor to the loss of control.
Mr Tattershall had a blood alcohol reading of 124 mg (the legal limit is 80mg) and no other drugs were present in the body. He had suffered multiple injuries and severe head injuries including brain swelling.
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.