ROADS in rural Limerick pose unique challenges, Sinn Fein senator Joanne Collins told the Upper House of the Oireachtas.
The Askeaton politician pointed out to Seanad members that many County Limerick roads are narrow, with poor visibility, inadequate lighting and, in some cases, dangerous surfaces due to a lack of maintenance.
“Speeding, reckless driving, and drink-and drug-driving remain persistent problems, as does the increase in the use of mobile phones while driving,” Senator Collins said.
She acknowledged the work done by An Garda Síochána and the road safety campaigners, who do their best to educate and enforce the law. However, enforcement alone, she believes, will not solve the crisis.
“We need a multifaceted approach, one that involves investment in infrastructure, stronger penalties for dangerous driving and a serious commitment to road safety education at an early age,” Collins opined.
“In County Limerick, we have seen too many tragic incidents on roads such as the N21 and the N69, and on many of our rural and regional roads. There is an urgent need for increased road maintenance funding to fix dangerous sections of these roads before they claim more lives.”
Senator Collins called on the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jerry Buttimer, to ensure road safety strategy priorities include rural communities.
“We owe it to the families who have lost loved ones to act with urgency. Road safety should not be reactive; we should be proactive and it should be a year-round priority for the government, the councils and communities,” she said.
In response, Minister Buttimer said that enforcement is a crucial deterrent to those who might violate the law on our roads.
The government, he continued, is committed to collaborating with its road safety partners in Transport Infrastructure Ireland and An Garda Síochána on rolling out additional safety cameras and the development of a national road safety camera strategy.
