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DRIVERS ARE BEING urged to reduce their speed and stay safe on the roads over the festive period after a “horrendous” year for road deaths.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) launched a campaign today calling on road users to reduce their speeds to 30km/h in urban areas and villages this Christmas.
The gardaí will also kick off its Christmas road safety enforcement plan tomorrow morning.
Minister of State with responsibility for roads Jack Chambers said it has been a “horrendous year on our roads” with 171 people losing their lives so far this year – 31 more than there were in 2022.
He said the focus must now be on reminding people to slow down during December, particularly as the darker evenings set in.
Launching the event at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the government is “redoubling” its efforts to reverse the trend of road deaths.
She pledged gardaí would be deployed to roads where analysis shows the majority of serious road traffic collisions occur, with attendees at today’s event told that Thursdays between 3pm-6pm is the most high risk time period.
McEntee said she would ensure that this Christmas gardaí are “on the roads that they need to be on, in the times at the locations that they are, to have the greatest effect”.
Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing and Community Engagement, Paula Hilman said: “It only takes a second for the unthinkable to happen and that’s why it’s essential, not only for drivers, for all of us, to look out for one another on the road, whatever activity we’re doing.”
The impact speed can have on casualties and fatalities was emphasised at the event, where it was stated that if hit at 60km/h, nine in 10 pedestrians will be killed, while if hit at 30km/h, nine in 10 people will survive.
The RSA today launched its new advert promoting the new 30km/ph speed zones:
Chairperson of the RSA Liz O’Donnell said ”we’re going to hear people complaining about this 30km/ph, we know that”, but added that the measure will save lives.
“We all have to just get used to it and change our habits,” she said.
O’Donnell said that RSA surveys show that people are admitting that they are speeding routinely and going over 10 kilometres more than the speed limit.
“So that’s a disaster,” she said.
Chambers said: “What is often not reported, though, is that for every fatality there are an average 10 serious injuries.
“Well over 900 people have sustained a serious injury on Irish roads this year and for many these injuries are life-changing for the victim, for families and friends, and communities, for extended periods of time, often for their whole lifetime.”
He said that the goal was “vision zero by 2050”, which aims to have no fatalities on Irish roads by then.
He added: “Look at the trend this year. This has been not only a devastating increase in road fatalities, but it’s particularly focused on younger people – up to 50% under 35. Even when you look at the trend and the cohort between 16 and 25, an enormous increase.
“That’s down to people not assessing risk, not recognising the fact that speed can kill them, can kill their passengers with them, and can recklessly impact, and injure and kill, other vulnerable road users.”
When asked about hard-hitting adverts for road safety and whether they should return, as has been stated by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Chambers said that the RSA has a plan for historic TV adverts to be aired over the Christmas period.
The advert called ‘anatomy of a split second’ which shows the danger of mobile phone use while driving, will also be televised in the coming weeks, he added, stating “there’s going to be a mix of ads, some of some of them reusing previous ads that did have a hard impact”.
Sam Waide, chief executive of the RSA, said: “The Christmas period should be a time of joy and celebration, not tragedy.
“Slower speeds save lives and by complying with these limits every road user contributes to a safer, more responsible road environment.
“We implore all road users to slow down and adhere to speed limits, including those in urban areas like 30km/h speed limits where they are in place, avoid driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and respect all other road users.
“Together, we can ensure that this Christmas is remembered for the right reasons.”
O’Donnell says if you're at the Christmas party this year and drinking until 3am in the morning, do not get into the car and go to work.
— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) November 30, 2023
‘Work from home the following morning,’ she says. pic.twitter.com/rcBLoRSs9B
O’Donnell appealed to those going to their Christmas party this year to leave the car at home.
She also urged people to be aware of driving the next morning, stating that if you’re at the Christmas party and drinking until 3am in the morning, do not get into the car and go to work the next day.
“Work from home the following morning,” she said.
With reporting by Press Association
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Tell this to all the obese ladies out there, it’s gone shocking lately..
Great idea Rory.
The thing is, when all those girls have slimmed down to what you deem acceptable, you unfortunately will still be single on account of the fact that you’re an odious excuse for a man.
Unfortunately Rory is right, it’s a disgrace the amount of obesity in this country and its largely down to laziness, it’s so simple for them to get up of their behinds and go for a walk
Paddy, his comment was aimed specifically at “ladies”. He’s more concerned with aesthetics than the health of the general population.
Maria, I’m afraid there is something slightly wrong with your comment, I have a bodyfat % of 8.5 and a girlfriend who works part time in Abercrombie whilst in college, obesity is down to laziness, you don’t wake up one
morning and realise your massive it occurs through lack of excessive and excessive consumption of unhealthy foods.
Thank you Dr Rory for your professional assessment of the causes of obesity. And as nice as it must be for you to have a girlfriend who works in a clothes shop, I still don’t really see what that has to do with you attacking obese “ladies” specifically.
I don’t know why you aimed your comment at women Rory. Have you not seen all the men with beer bellies protruding over their belts? Obesity doesn’t affect women alone.
Can’t we all just get along <3
We’ll get along when you stop being a misogynist.
I checked with every other man in Ireland and we all agreed to vote Rory out.
Oh I must get off my lazy ass when im finished picking up after my children…. and my fella! Are men exempt from obesity???
It seems so, according to Dr. Rory up there. He has a PhD is misogyny, don’t you know.
Yes, as a man you don’t need to worry about weight, you just need to have a massive cock… ney accent… The girls go mad for it, something about the pronunciation I hear….
Rest assured Rory I have plenty of self respect!!!! Yes I am overweight and yes I do have a gym membership which I use!!! Not everyone is obviously as motivated as you Rory!! Maybe getting up at 5.30am each morning,driving into Dublin City Centre to work in one of the busiest hospitals for hours then to drive home and care for a young family has adequate time to do what you obviously do???? Don’t tarnish obese people with the same brush!!!! Don’t be so narrow minded!!!!! One should wait until they have their own family and see how life changes!
If you work as hard as you say you do then the problem is your diet, if you have self respect you’d make a lifestyle change in what your consuming and maybe you’ll avoid spending most your time in hospital when your older, and I’m not talking about you working in it.
Agree with you Rory, Irish people in general do not look after themselves! We eat and eat, pure crap and do nothing on a daily routine to keep ourselves in shape. It is so different when you go abroad and everyone is normal weight! Too many take aways and too many hot chicken rolls every day for lunch probably do not help! Btw, being over weight is unhealthy and just because you have kids cannot make u overweight :) Kids do not force you to eat crap!!!
To be honest I started off earlier trolling for a few red thumbs off women, but on obesity in Ireland It’s a disgrace, takes 20 minutes of cardio a day to keep active. You need to have a calorie surplus of 3500 to gain one pound and that’s a lot of food. It’s beginning in the children in recent times and the excuse is they want to eat bad food. Stop feeding your kids shite and they won’t be puddings and be bullied for it.
Thanks for the advise. One shall take note of your wonderful expertise!! As it seems you have an answer for everything!!!! As I sign off I’ll pass on some advise of my own. In my 10 years of nursing I can recall hundreds of healthy, fit & active people who have been hospitalised or many that have subsequently died despite their fitness or diet. Maybe we don’t have full control of what the future holds for us!?! I do however understand that it is important to keep fit and be healthy that was never my argument. It was simply that maybe you should refrain from such offensive comments. It’s very easy to pass comment or judgement but be prepared for it in return!
@rory and @Paul, I do agree we are getting more and more obese, however, rory, I’m sure you know its not just ” ladies ” men are obese too.
Gillian, that’s an odd comment from a nurse! Obese people, like smokers, have a much worse health outlook. That’s not to say non smoking normal weight people won’t get ill, it’s just far less likely.
If he says we are obese girls then we obviously are! The mirrors have been lying to us all these years!
‘Ive a girlfriend who works in Abercrombie’. You clown. I think she needs to go to specsavers. Whilst shes there see if she can find you a pair of mens shades. Some people are ‘addicted’ to food, much like alcohol or cigarettes. They get a bit fat, feel down and go back to their addiction for comfort. It’s a wholesale change in education and attitude that will bring about change. 20 min cardio might work for some but it sure wont for others, there’s no quick fix for it.
@Rory For the record Abercrombie have yet to open their store in Ireland, just saying… is you’re girlfriend one of the burly builders…?
‘A calorie surplus of 3500 to gain a pound’ am laughing away to myself. I smell a ‘gym doctor’ here. You know them, all the answers and technobabble you need to get on the front cover of men’s health haha ‘if you pull this bar sideways it’ll actually make your guts spectre an enzyme that puts you off rashers which is why I look awesome’ haha
What a lovely comment Rory!!! I take it you’re single with a comment like that!?!?!? And rightly so too!!! We may not all be as slim as catwalk models but here’s the thing maybe we’re happy in our own skin!!!! People like you make me sick, that you actually think ya have the right to pass comment on others!!! One could search the world looking for perfection but would return empty handed as it does not exist! Maybe think before you speak next time Rory rather than be perceived as a shallow human being!!!! Or is that what you want, attention!?! Get a life!!!!
No I’ve a wonderful girlfriend who has something many women in Ireland lack these days…….self respect. Get off your backsides and do a bit of exercise.
As the oul fella said…. I’m glad I’m perfect!
Yes Rory, of course, weight loss is that simple – what about those people who are unable to exercise to their full capacity due to a long-term injury, what about people undergoing certain treatments in which they have to take massive amounts of steroids which causes massive weight gain, what about young women who’ve fought with bulimia for 20 years and as a result it has messed up their metabolism and their relationship towards food so much they wish it was as simple as a bit of exercise!
The world isn’t black and white Rory and there’s more to life than image. I know skinny size 8 women with high cholesterol and who smoke 40 a day and drink regularly and never exercise yet society and people like you would view such women as healthier than a curvy size 14 women who exercises regularly and eats a balanced diet. Health over image is the key Rory and to tar anyone who’s overweight as lazy is just pure ignorant!
Strange observation Rory, I wanted to say something quite opposite.
I see so many people around me walking, running, exercise etc. I feel bit ashamed I never do it regularly as I used to. I honestly don”t see that many obese people these days, maybe just bit overweight sometimes. But your rant about body fat level, eating, etc. does not work for everyone, as people have different metabolism levels and different gene pools. I know some people who have fried / fast food EVERY lunch and dinner, no exaggeration, and they’re skinny as rake. I need to watch what I eat all the time for a change as I get bigger right away, while I love many foods and can’t really help it :-) Only serious workout can balance this out for me.
I bet you are the type who can eat pretty much anything and stays the same weight so it’s easy to slag people :)
Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels
Sorry typo… should have read as ‘skinny fries,’
obese wimmins coming here, stealing all our food. It’s not right Joe
10. Reward Yourself
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Hmmm off to Burger King? :)
why do I have felling Rory spend more time getting ready for night out than I do. ya PEOPLE are putting on pound but its the life style and ready maid foods Rory just been douch about it. good tips buy way its not easy at start two get in two.
It’s a battle once u give up the cigs tho, so hard to keep the fab at bay
‘Secrete’. I hate auto-correct.
I’m still in shock after reading there’s 600 calories in a portion of prawn crackers :((
Our country is fecked. Cut child benefit, cut social welfare. Put a charge on water that you cannot drink. A charge on a home we’re never gonna be able to pay for.
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