‘We want to work with all road users to ensure we have no further fatalities on our roads’

With the busy June Bank Holiday weekend approaching, the head of the Roads Policing Unit in Meath and Westmeath, Inspector Peter Gilsenan is appealing to motorists to take extra care and be aware of the increased amount of agricultural vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists on our roads as the summer season kicks in.

Last year, there were no fatalities in Meath during the summer months of June, July and August and Gardai are appealing to motorists to take extra care on our roads in the hope that this trend will continue for 2023.

According to Inspector Gilsensan, statistics show that Friday to Sunday are the days of the week that fatal collisions are most likely to occur and the time of day that accidents are most likely to happen is between 12noon and 8pm.

Up to Monday, there had been five fatal collisions in Meath this year to date, two of which happened in the past week. A man in his seventies died in a single vehicle collision at Prioryland, Duleek, at 11.30pm on Thursday, 25th May, while a motorcyclist in his fifties died after a collision involving a car at Ross Cross on Sunday evening.

This compares to six fatal collision for the same period last year.

Nationally the number of fatal collisions is rising from 46 up to the end of April 2022, to 51 for the same period this year.

“We are very conscious that there were two fatalities last week and our sympathy is with the victims' families. We'd like to work together with all road users to ensure we enjoy the summer months with no further fatalities on our roads," said Inspector Gilsenan.

With the June Bank Holiday approaching, and the summer season upon us, Gardai say more people are out and about and there are more groups of cyclists and also pedestrians out enjoying the fine weather.

“It is also peak season for the farming community with an increase in heavy machinery, farmers cutting silage and doing tillage," said Inspector Gilsenan.

“We ask road users to be conscious of each other and of the extra activity on the road compared to what they are used to and to be conscious of their speed and also the speed of other vehicles using the road.

"While you might be driving within the speed limit of the road, it might not be a safe speed for the circumstances you are presented with. The higher the speed, the greater the likelihood of a collision happening."

Inspector Gilsenan (right), is asking cyclists to keep to two abreast and not to make a third row of cyclists saying it narrows the road for other road users and to also be conscious that if they are cycling two abreast, this may be half the road in some cases.

For those driving farm machinery, Gardai are appealing to them to be conscious of the size of their machine and the visibility out of it for cyclists and pedestrians and to be aware that there are blind spots.

The are also appealing to those operating tractors and heavy machinery not to use their mobile phones while on roads and Gardai say they have noticed an increase in the use of mobile phones.

"Statistics show making a call makes a driver four times more likely to be involved in a collision, while texting makes them 23 times more likely to be involved in a collision," said Inspector Gilsenan.

“If you are using an app for a playlist and bluetooth, have it set up before your journey. When you are driving, you should be concentrating on your driving and on the road at all times."

The importance of always wearing seatbelts is also being highlighted, with statistics showing that 27 per cent of driver and passengers killed in 2021 were not wearing a seatbelt. Inspector Gilsenan emphasised that seatbelts should be worn at all times, including by those driving agricultural vehicles.

While it is legal for a young person to drive a tractor or other farm machinery at 16, Inspector Gilsenan is asking them to be conscious that they are "driving agricultural vehicles at an early stage in their driving life and may not have a lot of experience".

"We are asking them to slow down, be conscious of the size of the vehicle and ensure that their speed is appropriate to the road".

Motorists are also asked to give enough space when overtaking cyclists and pedestrians, giving two metres in rural areas where possible and to make sure they have good sightlines.

Driving under the influence of an intoxicant continues to be a problem on our roads and Gardai are appealing to people to never ever drink or drug drive and plan their trips and book a taxi or have a designated driver and also make sure they are alcohol free the next morning as Gardai carry out mandatory intoxicant testing in the mornings.

Motorists are also advised if they are going on a trip to put in the details into their sat nav or phone before commencing, or if they have to do it during the journey, to pull in and stop while they do so.

Those using e-scooters are also asked to be conscious of other road users including pedestrians and cars and themselves and to remember that there is speed involved with these scooters that could lead to a collision occurring.