Media Release
18th October 2007
SAFETY ON IRISH ROADS
Mike Kavanagh, General Manager, IAM Fleet, commenting on the latest road safety statistics said, “Irish road safety continues to be a very real concern. Ireland has taken some great steps in tackling this issue, such as the introduction of penalty points and increases in alcohol testing. To keep reducing the number of deaths, we need to better prepare our drivers for the reality of Ireland’s roads.”
A recent EU report on road deaths has placed Ireland in 20th position out of 29 countries. The European Transport Council’s road safety performance index reveals that Ireland has cut the death rate on Irish roads by 10.9 per cent since 2001. Although this reduction is a step in the right direction, Luxembourg managed a 47.8 per cent reduction, while France and Portugal reduced their figures by 42.3 per cent and 42 per cent respectively.
How can we match those reductions, and save lives on Irish roads? In recent times, the issue has been tackled head on. Increases in alcohol testing, and in penalties for drink driving offences, the introduction of penalty points for mobile phone offences and the establishment of the Road Safety Authority over recent years have resulted in a 25% drop in road deaths. The work of the RSA and Gardaí must be commended, and to continue this trend their work must continue.
There are also several issues that individual drivers can address, helping to ensure safer roads for all road users. The IAM are widely respected in the field of Driver Training and is consulted by, leading organisations with responsibilities for road safety.
IAM has provided the following tips for individual drivers to help keep safe on Irish roads:
Ø Always drive at a speed that you can stop safely in the distance seen to be clear
Ø Try to create space around your vehicle. As a minimum keep a two second gap between you and the vehicle in front – Remember the 2 Second Rule
Ø If you are tired, take a 15 to 20 minute nap while you are parked somewhere safe, legal and convenient which can really give you a boost, especially if you combine it with a high caffeine drink when you wake up
Ø As a rule of thumb, the more paint there is on the road surface (i.e. road markings), the more potential danger there is
Ø To try and reduce the effect of stress on your driving, leave plenty of time for the journey
Ø Always drive as if your life depended on it – because it does
Irish Advanced Motorists (IAM) is Ireland’s leading advanced driving organisation. IAM is part of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, the UK Road Safety Charity dedicated to raising driving standards and reducing the number of accidents that occur on our roads.
IAM Fleet provides business-to-business risk management solutions to enable organisations to improve their Health & Safety performance, reduce fleet costs and safeguard the welfare of employees who drive as part of their work activity. For more information please visit www.iamfleet.ie
For further information on any aspect of road safety or to apply for the Advanced Driving Test, contact IAM at (056) 777 1778 or visit the website at www.irishadvancedmotorists.ie
