100% INCREASE IN ROAD CASUALTIES NEEDS URGENT ACTION - HUMPHREYS

STATEMENT BY CLLR RICHARD HUMPHREYS

Labour Party Councillor for Stillorgan

Monday, 19 September 2011

100% INCREASE IN ROAD CASUALTIES NEEDS URGENT ACTION - HUMPHREYS

Cllr Richard Humphreys, the Labour Party Councillor for the Stillorgan Ward, has expressed serious concern about the significant increase in those injured on our roads in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County.

“I acknowledge that while the Council and Gardai have done significant work in attempting to fatalities in the county, there has been an increase from 1 fatality in 2009 to a provisional figure of 5 fatalities on the roads in 2010.”  Humphreys said.

“Equally worrying however is the huge increase in injuries on the roads.  Injuries are at a 10 year high, having increased from 150 in 2007 to 308 in 2009 – an increase of over 100%.”

“What is particularly worrying is that injuries of some of the most vulnerable categories have increased by even higher percentages.  In 2007, 14 pedal cycle users were injured compared to 31 in 2009 – 221% of the figure only 2 years earlier.”

“I am calling on the Council and the Gardai to focus their efforts on accident hot spots and on engineering, enforcement and education measures that will have a significant impact on reducing casualties.  Handing out summonses for minor traffic violations by cyclists for example is all well and good but I very much doubt if it is the most effective way to save life and limb on the roads.” Humphreys said. 

“The latest full year casualty figures are car users - 181, pedestrians – 50, motor cycle users – 35, pedal cyclists – 31, others – 11.”

“We need to educate road users and enforce the law against reckless car drivers in particular, and to heed the extensive warnings of the Road Safety Authority.  I welcome the proposals at national level to reduce the permitted alcohol level for learner drivers to minimal level, and to require learner drivers to be disqualified after 6 penalty points rather than 12 penalty points for qualified drivers.  I have been in touch with Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar with a view to encouraging speedy implementation of these measures and indeed further measures to tackle the carnage on our roads.” Humphreys said.

Ends