Chief Supt John O'Brien, who heads the new national Traffic Policy Bureau, said yesterday that the death rate on the road has been increasing over the past 10 years. The figures for this year, and including yesterday's accident, show that there have been 228 road deaths, 14 since the introduction nine days ago of Operation Lifesaver, a test case initiative by the traffic bureau in the Garda division which takes in Meath, Louth and north Co Dublin.
"On the statistical evidence so far this year, it would look like we are going to have more than 453 deaths," Chief Supt O'Brien said.
The headlines are familiar: "Road deaths doubled over May holiday", "57 road deaths in two months", "Increase in road deaths". The Traffic Policy Bureau was introduced on July 4th, amid the realisation that more than 10 times as many people died in road deaths last year than were murdered. There were 42 murders, compared to 453 road deaths in 1996. In 1995 there were 433 road deaths, up by 29 from 1994.
Chief Supt O'Brien said the bureau is trying to achieve a change in attitude in motorists so that speeding and bad driving is viewed the same as drink-driving. "Well over 100 people are killed every year in single-vehicle accidents. That is clearly indicative of speed and dangerous driving or a combination of both," he said. Rates in Northern Ireland have remained broadly static. Up to July 21st there have been 73 road deaths, compared to 142 for the whole of 1996 and 144 in 1995.
But, as an RUC spokesman pointed out, the numbers are always a matter of concern, as they "vastly outweighed" the number of killings even at the height of the Troubles.
"In Northern Ireland for the last number of years, the major cause of accidents is speed, having regard to the conditions," he said.
In the courts, speeding is defined as a summary offence, carrying a maximum fine of £150, while it is at the judge's discretion to endorse the conviction on a driving licence.
On the scale of traffic offences, it is only when convictions are recorded for driving without due care and attention, for careless driving, or for dangerous driving that there are mandatory endorsements.
The number of speeding convictions has, in fact, decreased over the past three years, from 32,293 in 1994 to 30,805 in 1995 to 29,132 last year. But the number of dangerous driving/defective vehicle convictions rose by 32 to 217 in that period.
Apart from the loss of life and pain caused to loved ones, the economic cost of each road death is estimated to be about £850,000, calculated according to a "human capital approach".
Recently gardai were advised on how police in Victoria, Australia, have reduced deaths from more than 700 between 1987-1989 to below 400 since 1992. An "in your face" publicity campaign, "boozebuses" which carry out on-the-spot alcohol level tests and speed cameras have all helped to bring down death rates.
In their first week working on Operation Lifesaver, gardai issued 276 on-the-spot fines, detected 20 dangerous driving cases and one drink-driving case, and cautioned 400 drivers.
Other divisions will gradually take on aspects of the operation. They are drawing up operational plans to crack down on speeding, drink-driving, dangerous driving and seat-belt offences.
Chief Supt O'Brien said drink was a factor in about 35 per cent of cases, while the precaution of wearing a seat belt increased one's chance of surviving a crash by up to 50 per cent, depending on the speed factor.
He said motorists suffered from a delusion of invulnerability, failing to make a link between their driving habits and death. "They think they are as competent behind a wheel as they are making a business decision.
"There has to be a perception that if you are doing something stupid on the roadway you will be caught and that there will be consequences for being caught," he said.
He has been surprised by the positive public reaction to the new approach. "We have not experienced such a positive reaction to anything we have done for months if not for years. There has been an extremely positive reaction to the Lifesaver initiative," he said.