The Long Road
After all the warnings, all the campaigns and even getting Gay Byrne to be the famous face to tell us to slow down; it’s a guarantee that we will read of at least one road death this coming weekend.
A recent EU report has ranked Ireland as one of the worst countries for reducing road deaths. Between 2001 and 2005, The European Transport Council found that Ireland had a reduction of 3% in road deaths. Compare this to France’s rate of 35% and Ireland looks paltry.
So why does this keep happening? What is it that we cannot seem to understand when it comes to road safety? The first people that are automatically singled out are young drivers, but it’s not always the case. Too many remember the good old days when you could drink and drive and not worry about legal limits or breathalysers.
Yes the more recent figures are indicating that road deaths are decreasing but the figures quoted still put us above EU average, so let’s not start the party just yet. Nearly 500 people died on our roads in 1997; In 2006 it was 368. The EU report stated that more help is needed from governments around Europe; if there is to be a continuation in the reduction of these deaths. One of the main issues that needs to be addressed is speed limits.
Speed is not always a good thing and ‘boy racers’ give us the opinion that a long stretch of road (sometimes not even that)is a good excuse to hit the accelerator and so how loud and wild they can be.
Between 2003 and 2005, speeding on rural roads has reduced, but has increased on motorways. It seems to be easy to monitor a Dual carriageway and spot people driving over the limit. I would almost state that it is easy money because the nature of a road like that would suggest a high volume of traffic at rush hour times of the morning and evening.
However it would seem to me that a lot of these accidents are taking place away from main roads, which is exactly where the authorities should be monitoring. Most of the long and winding back roads are not fit for the level of traffic they receive. More cars equals more problems as frustration and ignorance get the better of many drivers.
At the same time when are we, the general public, going to take responsibility for ourselves? Yes the quality of roads are poor, despite the amount of taxpayers money that is given to the government, but those that drive still have to be mature about the decisions they make.
Ireland has a 46% compliance rate in buckling up in the backseat. Add to the another survey by the European Commission showing that almost four in 10 people killed in car accidents here are aged between 18 and 25 and it’s obvious that there is a lack of common sense in those that drive and those that enforce it.
In 2003, 88 people were on provisional licences. Last year that number had risen to over 15,000. Waiting times for driving tests are at a consistently scandalous level and yet outward there is not much concern about it.
Too many things are allowed to slide in Ireland, we have a sense of definitely putting off today what you can do maybe tomorrow or the next day or the next month. After all we have a government that has spent the last ten years cultivating this belief.
When it comes to the road safety; Ireland can either be regarded as safe or stupid. Everyone is involved in this choice from the government to the gardai to the general public. We need to get a grip on this problem, if only to stop Monday morning funerals for victims of car accidents.
Tuesday, August 7th, 2007 and is filed under Thoughts & Questions.
You can leave a comment.
