[mydiscworld]

http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=138

Summary for the year up to 9.00 am June 6th 2012
Daily Comparison 2011 - 2012

Total Killed to 06/06/11 74 Total Killed to 06/06/12 75

Total Collisions to 06/06/11 67 Total Collisions to 06/06/12 72

[mydiscworld]

Collisions are also up btw.

I've been saying for a while now that once the new motorways were finished the annual road deaths figure would stay pretty flat.

Perhaps some more Speed (aka Safety) Cameras would help a tiny bit.

Next big step in my opinion is compulsory eye tests.

Discussed here a few months ago
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...php?p=76995378

And way back in 2003 here
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=801702

[seamus]

We were doing well up till April.

Weather would be my main guess. April was wetter and colder this year than last year, May was pretty much the same (hence similar figures), June so far has again been wet and cold, particularly over the bank holiday.

This pattern would also seem to match with the exceptionally mild and dry month we had in January corresponding to a big difference in figures.

I don't think speed cameras are of any particular benefit. I think there would be more benefit in evaulating dodgy parts of our road system to remove sharp bends & hidden junctions, and insert street lighting at any major junctions.

[Hifiman]

Road deaths have gone up by about 13 since the drink drive limit was lowered late last year. (The new limits came into effect just before the October Bank Holiday 2011)

Four more were killed in November 2011 compared to the same month in 2010 while eight more were killed in December 2011 than December 2010.

The RSA would have been vey quick to point out a reduction following the lowering of the limits - but there has been an increase of over 15% when you compare the seven-month period since November with the same seven months in the previous years (2010/2011)

It was predicted by some (Donegal Coroner etc.,) that lowering the limits would make little difference - but in fact it has - deaths have risen!

[Jayuu]

There has been great progress over the last few years so sadly its probably inevitable that at some point that rate might level off or even creep back up.

While it probably would help if road improvements continued, ultimately unless we come up with a different form of mass transportation or some new radical innovation on preventing collisions there are always going to be incidents and, regretfully, fatalities.

To be honest I don't think there is any one factor that can be linked to this slight increase. Let's just hope that the next six months are a safer period.

[AugustusMinimus]

It's just statistical variance. One more death doesn't mean something odd is happening.

[antoobrien]

Originally Posted by seamus

I don't think speed cameras are of any particular benefit. I think there would be more benefit in evaulating dodgy parts of our road system to remove sharp bends & hidden junctions, and insert street lighting at any major junctions.

Can anybody remember when the revenue generator "safety" cameras were introduced. It'd be interesting to see what the relative effect that this has had vs say the introduction of penalty points or the lowering of a DD limit.

[veryangryman]

Originally Posted by antoobrien

Can anybody remember when the revenue generator "safety" cameras were introduced. It'd be interesting to see what the relative effect that this has had vs say the introduction of penalty points or the lowering of a DD limit.

I think you just listed the benefit

[niloc1951]

An important issue in the figures is that deaths as a result of collisions resulting from sudden illness, eg. heart attack for example, are not separated.

Such collisions are not attributable to 'driver bad behaviour' and all is needed is one or two such tragic occurrences involving multiple deaths to skew the figures significantly.

[mike65]

Unless the end of year figure is more than about 8% higher I'd not read anything into this beyond people still die on the roads and always will.

[robclay26]

I know many would disagree to this idea, but i personally think it would be the right job:
In aviation every 2 years a private pilot does a check ride with an instructor, or commercial every 6 months with an airline.
So take this concept to the roads.
Our licences are for 10 years and I believe (open to correction) that after a certain age that are for shorter periods of time?

Well for all drivers under 50 the should have to take a skills test to get a licence renewal after their 10 year licence expires. This test is just to show they know the basic rules and proper way to drive and to be safe. (NOT A FULL BULL****E DRIVING TEST)
Drivers over 50, Licence valid for 5 years and a skills test again to renew it
Drivers over 70, licence valid for 2 years and a skill test to renew it.

The validation period is shorter for older generations because they in general have a substandard of driving. Example: driving at 80km or 60km in fast lane on motorway when the left lane is clear, or driving the wrong way up the Dual carriage way or motorway.

I would like to mention that also pensioners should have this renewal test done free of charge if the meet criteria similar to medical card approvals. Low income pensions are free and the rich pay the normal fee.

But before something like this can be done, the delays and backlogs in driving test would have to be a thing of the past. Also the driving test itself needs to be changed, its a load of ballocks!!

Its time to remove from the road dangerous drivers! Go safe Vans are Ballocks the make money for the government.
Saving lives on the roads is done by:
(1)improving driving skills in all conditions, Rain, ice, Snow etc
(2)fixing the Dangerous roads them selves. better signage and markings at dangerous junctions, straightening out the bad bends on back roads etc. But this costs money, Go- Safe Vans make money!
Go-safe vans according to the Gardai are places where fatal Accidents accoured, not serious or minor, but fatal, it says it on their site. I know of a few camera areas near me that have had not a single Minor, serious or fatal accident since 2005 according to the RSA map, but the Go-safe map has a speed van zone in them and i see them pretty much everyday.
Other places such as the N4 east of Mullingar with the junction for Kilucan is one of the most dangerous in the country, ( i know it is been upgraded at the moment) but the main N4 is 100KPH and it should be only 80KPH with a speed van here, this is a dangerous junction and many many accidents, just look at the RSA site with the map.



I wrote yesterday to the RSA and the Garda Traffic Unit on many subjects with driving in this country and what should be done.

Bottom line: Driving standards, Testing, Roads and regulation of it by the Gardai is Ballocks!

[mydiscworld]

Originally Posted by mike65

Unless the end of year figure is more than about 8% higher I'd not read anything into this beyond people still die on the roads and always will.

My point was not that the roads are getting worse or more dangerous. I agree that anything +/- 8% is within an expected annual variance.

My point was more can be done to have the number lowered.

robclay's idea of a basic test every 10 years when your license expires seems logical. This should incldue mandatory eye test imo. And be no more than 50euro all in.

[mike65]

I would agree with a decade test, NCT for cars every two years (every year for anything over 10 years) and yet most humans don't need to take one until 75 (I think).

[the_syco]

How many were single driver accidents that hit a wall or tree after coming off a straight road?

And have these such "accidents" risen?

[ardmacha]

Well for all drivers under 50 the should have to take a skills test to get a licence renewal after their 10 year licence expires.

I imagine an enhanced rules test would be easier to administer in the the first instance. People with substantial driving experience rarely lack control of their vehicles.

The validation period is shorter for older generations because they in general have a substandard of driving.

Why then do people in their 50s have the lowest accident rate?