Safety plan credited with halving Meath crash deaths

Deaths due to accidents on Meath's road network have been almost halved in a three-year period as a result of a new county road safety plan introduced by Meath County Council. The 47 per cent per cent reduction in deaths was hailed this week as a major step forward in cutting road carnage although safety officials warned that there was no room for complacency. The number of deaths in the three-year period 2007-2009 inclusive was 34, an average of 11.3 per year compared to 63 deaths in the three years 2004-2006 inclusive (an average of 21 per year). The reduction of 47 per cent far outstrips the target set by the county council in its Road Safety Plan 2007-2009. The target reduction over the three years had been set at 25 per cent. Meath County Manager Tom Dowling said he was extremely pleased with the progress that had been made through the road safety strategy, woking in co-operation with other bodies. "We cannot afford to become complacent. Every death on our roads is a death too many and causes immeasurable trauma and grief to families," he said. A total of 241 people lost their lives on the country's roads in 2009, the lowest number since records began, an outcome welcomed by Road Safety Authority chairman Gay Byrne. Meath County Council's road safety officer Michael Finnegan said this week that, in the first year of the safety plan, there had been 14 deaths. This had fallen to eight in 2008 but had risen again to 12 in 2009. He said that of the 12 people who died last year, five had been under the age of 25 and seven were under 30, a rate consistent with national levels of fatalities. "We are disappointed, of course, that the number of deaths went up somewhat in 2009 after a good reduction in 2008. However, we are pleased with the overall reduction." The main cause of accidents was speeding, Mr Finnegan said, although consumption of alcohol also played a factor. The council had set itself targets in terms of identifying dangerous locations throughout the county and implemented improvements through road realignments, the introduction of footbridges and paths and public lighting, he added. The improvements included public lighting at Primatestown on the N2, a new footbridge at Nobber, installation of flashing lights outside 10 schools throughout the county, complete standardisation of speed limits (50km/h) outside all schools, introduction of bus lanes either side of Dunshaughlin and at Pace, footpath and lighting from Kentstown village to the national school, installation of safety barrier outside St Paul's School on the Slane Road, public lighting either side of Carnaross village, road improvements at Fyanstown Cross on the Kells-Slane Road, new junction lighting at Ballinamona on the Kells-Carnaross Road, barriers erected at Tullaghanstown to prevent vehicles leaving the road, and a new footbridge at Johnstownbridge, Enfield. Enhanced signage has also been installed in locations throughout the county. Mr Finnegan said that the overall improvement in the road fatality figures could be attributed to Meath County Council's determination to improve the network in accordance with the safety plan, and increased enforcement by the Gardai. He also praised local engineers for their "enormous contribution to road safety". The county manager said that the council had been a leader among local authorities in promoting road safety initiatives. He said former Garda superintendent Michael Finnegan had also been the first full-time road safety officer to be appointed outside of Dublin. "I want to acknowledge the role that Michael has played in raising awareness of road safety across the county," said Mr Dowling. Over the three-year period of the safety plan, the road safety officer visited all schools in the county but targeted fifth, sixth and transition year students in secondary schools for special attention. He also made presentations to farming organisations and clubs, trained 1,800 primary school students in cycling safety, distributed 4,000 high visibility jackets and 3,000 reflective armbands, and targeted public events like the Slane concert and Fairyhouse Races for distribution of safety literature.