Costello concerned at number of young people injured on roads
Posted on August 30, 2010 at 11:53 AM
The serious traffic accident in Mayo in the early hours of this morning, in which seven young people were injured and hospitalised, is the latest in a series of such incidents on Irish roads. The numbers of young people who have either been seriously injured or have lost their lives on Irish roads recently is worryingly high.
It is essential that measures are taken to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on our roads. In particular, it is important to create awareness among young people of the dangers of speed and reckless driving and to better educate young drivers on proper road safety.
The new reforms being proposed by the Road Safety Authority for learner and inexperienced drivers are an important step in improving the quality of driving on our roads and hopefully in reducing accidents.
Another key factor in reducing road accidents and fatalities is the enforcement of existing road traffic laws. This is especially important when considering the fact that there were seven people travelling in the single five seat car which crashed in Mayo this morning, injuring all seven.
Finally, the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, needs to address a range of outstanding road safety issues including the national speed camera rollout, speed signage and limits, enforcement and the Graduated Driver License Scheme as a matter of urgency.
