Dooley appeals for safety on our roads this Bank Holiday weekend

This weekend our roads will be very busy with people taking advantage of the October Bank Holiday to travel around the country and to get away with friends and family. Events such as the Cork Jazz Festival and the Dublin City Marathon will attract people from all over the country, as will other smaller events and attractions in every town and county around Ireland.

With this increased traffic flow however comes the increased risk of accidents on our roads. During the course of the October Bank Holiday weekend last year, 4 people lost their lives on our roads. The previous year, road accidents resulted in the death of 3 other people.

We need to all play a role in helping to prevent road accidents and the most simple way to do that is to follow the simple road safety advice. The Road Safety Authority has published some advice for people travelling by road this weekend and I think it is worth repeating.

Drivers

• Always drive at an appropriate speed for the conditions and circumstances
• Never ever drink and drive, designate a driver or use alternative transport
• Wear a seat belt and ensure all passengers front and rear are wearing theirs too
• Improve your visibility on the roads by driving with your dipped headlights on
• Plan your journey in advance and set off as early as possible to avoid heavy traffic
• Take frequent breaks to avoid tiredness / driver fatigue
• Be extra alert. Drivers heading off on a weekend break have a tendency to relax their guard, so be especially alert if driving on unfamiliar roads around your destination.

Pedestrians

• Walk on a footpath, not in the road
• Walk on the right hand side of the road, facing traffic if there are no footpaths
• Be seen. If walking at night wear a high-visibility jacket, armband and carry a torch.

Cyclists / Motorcyclists

• Don’t weave in and out of traffic
• Avoid driver’s blind spots
• Be seen wear a high-visibility jacket
• Use your lights day and night

Almost every bank holiday weekend sees some terrible accident on our roads. Let’s all heed the advice by the Road Safety Authority this weekend and try to prevent any more lives being lost. That way we can all enjoy the bank holiday weekend.

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