Sunday, September 16, 2007

United Ireland will Reduce Road Deaths?

At least,I think that's what the Sinner Spokesman on Road Safety, Newry Armagh MLA Cathal Boylan is implying here.
Mr Boylan said:

"Extensive research into issues associated with the carnage on our roads here in Ireland show clearly that the number of fatal and serious collisions in border counties is much higher than the in average non border counties.

So, basically the border's a factor in the "carnage on our roads"?

"Louth, for example has recorded that 27.9% of drivers from the north were involved in fatal collisions in that County and it is significant that the early hours 2am to 4am in particular highlight the difference in fatal collisions between the border and non-border counties.

A quarter of all Northern Irish drivers were involved in fatal collisions in Louth?
That seems a bit on the high side, no mention of where Cathal gets this astonishing figures from. By the way, why does "County" get a capital "C" and "north" only a small "n"?

"Many deaths on our Roads are premature and preventable.

Well, I'd say all road deaths are "premature" and, except in a very small percentage of cases, "preventable".

I'm not making light of the "carnage" on the roads, the statistics are indeed very sad. But it does make me a bit weary how the fabled "All-Ireland approach" is forever been wheeled out as the solution to all our society's problems; I saw it even once being suggested as a means to sort out the incredibly high suicide rate we suffer in parts of Northern Ireland.

Whether there is a border or not, people(predominantly young men) will be still be killing themselves and others by their reckless driving between the hours of 2 and 4 am. That's the depressing truth in all western societies. So rather than waffling on about "joint-up" thinking and all-Ireland approaches and what have you, how about some more practical solutions?

How about a curfew each evening from 9 o'clock, for example, for all drivers between the ages of 17 and 30?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

curfew is a ridiculous idea....the roads need to be fixed and made safe. we need an electronic monitoring system that warns the drivers of speed limits and road conditions...sometimes the drivers are not aware of the road temperatures it is these things that cause tyres to skid. Bad corners need to be strightened and permanent speed cameras need to be installed on country roads so the drivers know if they go over the speed limit then they are caught. How about installing breatheliser machines inside cars??? compulsory breathelising.?? money needs to be spent on our roads.