Kildare County Council Issues Bank Holiday Road Safety Warning.

Friday, 4 June 2021 07:40

The roads are expected to be very busy, as people take advantage of the re-opening of hotels and B&Bs.

Kildare County Council has issued a road safety warning, as the June Bank Holiday weekend dawns.

This may be the busiest bank holiday on the roads this year, because of the easing of Covid 19 restrictions

Kildare County Council is urging motorists to be alert to some of the dangers and risks associated with long journeys, in particular speeding and driver fatigue.

Driver fatigue is estimated to be a contributory factor in 1 in 5 driver deaths every year, while tiredness-related collisions are 3 times more likely to be fatal or result in serious injury collisions.

Speeding is the biggest contributory factor to road deaths in Ireland, and is also the most frequently committed road traffic offense on Kildare's roads. On average, two thirds of all penalty points issued to drivers in the county every month are for breaking to speed limit.

KCC says " Driving at a slower speed makes a significant difference in the event of a collision. For instance, if you hit a pedestrian while travelling at 50km/h, they have a 50% chance of surviving, whereas if you hit a person while travelling at 60km/h, they have a 10% chance of surviving." ,

Driver fatigue is estimated to be a contributory factor in 1 in 5 driver deaths every year,

Kildare County Council’s Road Safety Officer Declan Keogh said I would urge all drivers to ensure they are fully fit and capable of driving, free of any tiredness, alcohol or drugs and to drive at a safe and appropriate speed, having regard for other road users. "