Gardaí are launching a nationwide operation targeting dangerous traffic offences after a very bad summer for people killed on the road.
There were 24 people killed on the road in August alone this year, the worst single month for traffic fatalities since June of 2016.
Overall this year there have been 110 people killed on the roads to date in 2021, with an alarming increase in the number of drivers killed in collisions.
The 57 drivers killed in traffic incidents this year is 19% more than last their lives on the road in the same period of 2020.
Operation Teorainn will target the four ‘Lifesaver Offences’ of speeding, driving while intoxicated, not wearing a seatbelt, and holding a mobile phone, as well as unaccompanied learner drivers, plus road transport offences.
The operation will pay particular attention to rural roads with a speed limit of 80km/hr or higher, which have been the site of more than three quarters of road deaths this year.
Chief Superintendent Michael Hennebry, said “Every fatal or serious injury collision has a devastating impact on the family, friends and communities of the people involved.”
“Our focus for the remainder of 2021 will be to reduce these collisions through this road safety enforcement campaign. Our roads are shared spaces, and we all have a duty of care, to ourselves and to others, to keep each and every road user safe.”
“I am urging every road user to play their part by complying with the road traffic legislation and assist An Garda Síochána to make our roads safer places for all.”
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) will support Operation Teorainn with a programme of road safety awareness campaigns.
With just two and a half months remaining in the year, Gardaí and the RSA are calling on road users, and particularly drivers, to make a greater effort to stay safe on the road. Thirty-three people were killed in the final three months of 2020.
Chief Executive of the RSA Same Waide said their campaigns “will include mass media campaigns focused on the main contributing factors to road user fatalities and injuries, namely speeding, drink-driving, drug-driving and non-seat belt wearing.”
The RSA also plans to run two new radio and online campaigns in support of Garda enforcement of traffic laws.
“The first will target learner and novice drivers to remind them that they are subject to a lower penalty point threshold than ordinary drivers. If they accumulate seven points in a three year period they face disqualification for six months.”
“It will also remind learner drivers that if they drive unaccompanied, they face two penalty points, an €80 fine and their car will be seized and impounded.”
The second campaign will be aimed at male drivers, who make up 79% of drivers killed in traffic collisions from 2016 – 2020.
