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AN Garda Síochána and The Road Safety Authority (RSA) have expressed concern at the number of drivers being detected driving at excessive speed, and at a doubling in the number of pedestrian deaths to date this year.
The authorities have also expressed serious concern at the number of drivers who, despite the reduced amount of traffic on the road, are speeding and in one case last Wednesday, gardaí detected on motorist travelling at 104 Km/h in a 50 Km/h Zone on the N22 at Farranfore.
Some drivers have been detected speeding through streets with 50km/h limits at what can only be described as motorway speeds. Drivers are being urged to slow down and expect to encounter more pedestrians and cyclists than normal on journeys.
16 pedestrians have been killed up to the April 29, 2020, compared to eight pedestrian deaths up to the same period in 2019. Six pedestrians alone have died since the schools were closed in the middle of March.
Pedestrians are being reminded of the Rules of the Road when out walking. This includes using a footpath where one is provided.
Where there is no footpath you must walk as near as possible to the right-hand side of the road facing oncoming traffic. Pedestrians should ensure they are visible to other users, cyclists and vehicles, especially when walking in the early morning and late evening.
They are also being advised to always assume that they will encounter traffic on the road regardless of the current restrictions on travel.
A total of 54 people have died on the roads so far in 2020, seven more than last year. This means that there has not been a significant reduction in road deaths, which might have been expected given reduced traffic volumes.
Since schools were closed on Friday 13 March 2020 and up to 29 April 2020, there have been 17 road traffic fatalities. This compares to 18 fatalities over the same period last year.
