[Article] Motorways reduce road deaths, says Dempsey

Victor

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0323/1224266876062.html

Motorways reduce road deaths, says Dempsey
MICHAEL PARSONS in Knocktopher, Co Kilkenny

IRELAND’S NEW network of motorways is helping to reduce the number of people killed on the roads, according to Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey.

Mr Dempsey said that up to yesterday, 18 fewer people had been killed on the roads than at the same time last year.

Mr Dempsey was speaking at the opening yesterday of a new 24km section of the Dublin-Waterford motorway. The stretch of road, which cost €274 million – more than €10 million a kilometre – runs through south Co Kilkenny, from near the village of Knocktopher to Waterford city.

The fourth and final section of the motorway – between Knocktopher and Carlow – will open later this year. As a result, he said, “it will be possible to travel from the Red Cow [roundabout on the M50 in Dublin] to Waterford in 90 minutes while observing the speed limit”.

He added: “If anyone had said that four or five years ago, they’d be laughed at.”

Mr Dempsey claimed the new motorway would boost investment in the southeast and noted that “97 per cent of all foreign direct investment takes place within 3km of a national primary route”.

The new road will be used by an estimated 12,500 vehicles daily and allows motorists to bypass Knocktopher, Ballyhale and Mullinavat, which had become notorious traffic bottlenecks.

During the opening ceremony, the Minister was heckled by protesters complaining about reports that the Irish Coast Guard’s helicopter service would be withdrawn from Waterford after 2012.

The Minister, however, said the service was being “improved” and “not being cut”. The helicopter service in Waterford would “remain up to 2013” and its continuance thereafter was subject to an ongoing “review”.

He claimed that national spending on the service would increase “from €27 million to €50 million a year” and would provide new “much larger helicopters” and “24-hour coverage for all the coastline in Ireland”.

“Whether it is located in Waterford or not is not the point – the point is it will be a much better service.”

Asked for his reaction to remarks by Mattie McGrath, a Fianna Fáil TD for Tipperary South, who told Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio One yesterday that he was “arrogant and out of touch”, Mr Dempsey replied that he hadn’t heard the remarks and said: “I don’t react”.

FlameoftheWest

It is true. Most of the fatalities in this country are on small roads. Motorways are very safe.

veryangryman

Stating the obvious is a step up for Dempsey on his usual policy of stating his holiday plans

Patser

Motorways reduce deaths.

Govt want to reduce deaths. RSA want to reduce deaths.

Why are motorways tolled? Forcing some motorists, often those who are strapped for cash, and therefore more likely to be driving older, less safe, less well maintained cars onto older, less safe, less well maintained roads.

Your money or your life?:rolleyes: