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Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland
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Road deaths in 2011 'lowest since records began' - Varadkar
The Minister for Transport said the figures mean Ireland’s roads are among the safest in Europe.
THE NUMBER OF road deaths in Ireland decreased in 2011 and will likely be the lowest since records began, according to transport minister Leo Varadkar.
The Minister said that based on current figures, it looks likely that fewer than 200 people will be killed on Irish roads over the course of the year.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, he said:
Overall, 2011 is going to be a good year for road safety. It looks like there will be less than 200 people killed on the roads which is actually the lowest since records began. It makes us one of the three safest countries in Europe in which to use the roads.
However, Varadkar said the holiday period had been a bad one, with a number of deaths on the roads. He added that Christmas would never be the same for the families who had lost loved ones.
The Department of Transport confirmed today that 16 new penalty point offences for motorists would be introduced next year, including sanctions for not having a clear windscreen and driving with a faulty light.
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