An Garda Síochána and RSA launch bank holiday road safety appeal

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána have launched their Easter bank holiday road safety appeal to appeal to all road users to slow down, wear seatbelts, not to drive when impaired, or distracted.

The appeal follows a worrying increase in road deaths so far this year. There has been 50 road deaths so far in 2022 which is a huge increase from 27 road deaths in the same period in 2021.

This is 23 more unnecessary deaths and heartache for families and friends and represents an almost doubling of last year’s figure.

There will also be focus on drug driving in this road safety appeal. An Garda Síochána figures for the full year 2021 saw over 3,300 arrests for Drug-Driving. The number of arrests in 2022, up to 31 March, is 768.

Analysis by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) indicates that cannabis and cocaine remain the most detected drugs in drivers on Irish roads. Last year, 57% of specimens tested for drugs contained cannabis, 31% contained cocaine and 14% were found to have benzodiazepines.

Minister for Transport, Hildegarde Naughton, said: "The increase in road deaths this year is deeply concerning. We must all take action to reverse this trend by taking greater care when using the road – especially over the high-risk Easter Bank Holiday period. Four people died and eight were seriously injured over the Easter bank holiday last year. That means as drivers, we have a responsibility to slow down, to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, never to use our phones or drive while tired, and always to ensure that everyone in our vehicle wears their seatbelt."

"For the government’s part, we are continuing to prioritise lifesaving legislation such as the current Road Traffic and Road Bill and to invest in infrastructure to enable safe active travel initiatives. The government is spending approximately 1 million euro every day on infrastructure to support safe active travel.”

Chief Executive, Road Safety Authority, Sam Waide, said: "We have had an appalling start to the year on our roads with 50 lives lost. An average of 15 people have been killed each month on the road to date this year. If we continue on this path, we could end up losing 180 lives this year. Ireland is in danger of having the highest number of road fatalities in a decade. If we all act now and improve our behaviour on the road, collectively we can avoid this preventable loss of life.”

Mr Waide added, "There is a focus on drug driving over the Easter Bank Holiday. Driving under the influence of drugs can seriously affect a driver’s motor skills, and ability to control a motor vehicle on the road. If you are detected drug driving you will face a court appearance and if found guilty, a minimum driving disqualification of one year. Ask yourself is it worth the risk? Losing your licence and possibly your job.”

Assistant Commissioner, Paula Hilman, Roads Policing and Community Engagement, An Garda Síochána added: "This Easter Bank Holiday weekend, members of An Garda Síochána will focus on the detection of key lifesaver offences which include speeding, drink/drug driving, non-wearing of seat-belts and using a mobile phone while driving. Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) checkpoints will be undertaken throughout the country. Don’t ever drive under the influence of an intoxicant. If you drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs you risk losing your licence. Our priority is to keep people safe, so I would ask you to please make responsible decisions this holiday period and don’t ever drive under the influence of an intoxicant.”

This bank holiday weekend drivers are being reminded that the RSA and participating Applegreen service stations are providing free cups of coffee to drivers to help combat driver fatigue. The offer is available from 2pm to 8pm on Friday 15 and on Monday April 18.

Drivers planning to head out socialising over the Easter bank holiday are being encouraged to plan how they are going to get home safely. Book a taxi, use public transport or designate a driver.

Ireland’s fifth government Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 aims to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on Irish roads by 50% over the next 10 years. This means reducing deaths on Ireland’s roads annually from 144 to 72 or lower and reducing serious injuries from 1,259 to 630 or lower by 2030.