Road users praised for reducing deaths

ROAD casualty figures
for 2011 have revealed that road deaths have fallen to below 200 for the first
time since records began in 1959.

Deaths have also fallen for their sixth consecutive
year and last year was the fourth in a row where deaths have been a record low.

A total of 186 people tragically lost their lives on
the road in 2011.

However, this is 26 fewer fatalities compared to 212
deaths in 2010 and 52 fewer deaths compared to 2009 when 238 people lost their
lives on the roads.

Since the Road Safety Strategy 2007 to 2012 was
introduced in road deaths have dropped by 50 per cent. When compared to the
year before the introduction of the first ever road safety strategy in 1998,
deaths have fallen by 59 per cent.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo
Varadkar, said motorists should be proud of their achievement.

“People
are alive today as a direct result of better driver behaviour. However, we must
ensure that this good work continues and I would ask all drivers to keep up the
good work.

“For its part, the Government has made road safety a
key priority. We have rolled out new drink driving levels and other significant
measures. We will continue to launch new road safety measures in the years
ahead including the new plastic drivers’ licence, enhanced commercial vehicle
roadworthiness testing, and the publication of legislation to provide for
preliminary impairment testing of drug drivers at the roadside.

We will also make preparations for new penalty
points.

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Gay Byrne, the chairman of the Road Safety Authority
said:

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Mr Byrne added:

“However, one death is one too many
and for the 186 families who lost a loved one on the road last year my words of
praise ring hollow.

“Out of respect to those who have died and those who
have been left grieving I would ask that you all please use the roads in 2012
with greater care. Life is fragile, it’s held by the thinnest of threads and it
only takes a split second for that lifeline to be severed.

In welcoming the record reduction in road fatalities,
the Minister for Justice and Equality, Alan Shatter TD, said: “I very much
welcome the record reduction in road traffic fatalities in 2011.

“Enormous progress has been made in making our roads
safer. Having said that, every road
death is a tragedy, and the Government is committed to building on the progress
made. The gardai will continue their
focus on enforcement of road traffic legislation, which has contributed so much
to the improvements we are seeing.

Together with the other authorities, and with the
cooperation of road users, the gardai will work towards making our roads safer
and maintaining the excellent progress that has been made in saving lives and
reducing injury.”