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If you’re an
Inishowen person who thinks it’s okay to drink and
drive – think again.
Gardai will be cracking down on drunken drivers,
dangerous drivers and speeding over the Easter Bank
Holiday weekend.
Local officers warned that extra officers would be
on the traffic beat with random checkpoints
throughout the peninsula aimed at preventing
accidents and saving lives.
“There will be extra resources in the area as there
are during any bank holiday weekend.”
Many people will be on the move to visit family and
friends for Easter. They have been asked to be
vigilant and to take all necessary steps to ensure
their safety and the safety of others.
“Speeding is the single greatest cause of deaths and
injuries on our roads so drivers are urged to slow
down. A 1km/h decrease in average speed results
typically in a 3% decrease in road crash frequency,”
said a spokesperson.
The second greatest cause of road deaths, which
often combines speeding, is drink driving.
”But roadside alcohol screening in conjunction with
evidential breath testing is helping to reduce road
traffic casualties to a significant extent and
enforcement will be kept at optimum levels.”
Holidaymakers have been urged to designate a driver
or use public transport or taxis and hackneys if
going out for a drink.
A total of 29 pedestrians have been killed, to date
in 2007, on our roads compared to 21 for the same
period last year.
Pedestrians are urged to wear high visibility
clothing, walk facing oncoming traffic and use
footpaths, pedestrian and designated crossings where
available.
If you are going on a long journey, remember that
tiredness can also contribute to road fatalities and
injuries. “Motorists should plan all journeys and
stop in a safe place if they feel at all tired and
take a short nap or break away from the road.”
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