RSA issue warning ahead of the Bank Holiday

Ahead of the May Bank Holiday weekend, the RSA and An Garda Síochána are appealing to road-users to slow down and not take any chances on the roads.

It comes as a new report reveals that speed was a factor in one in three fatal collisions on Irish roads between 2008 and 2012.

Garda Síochána Chief Superintendent, Aidan Reid said “excessive or inappropriate speed is the biggest killer on our roads. If you are driving too fast, your ability to react properly or safely to hazards is severely compromised. And if you are involved in a collision, the outcome could be tragic.'

He said 'there were 40,787 speeding detections in the first three months of this year. Speeding is not only illegal, it is dangerous and selfish. So please, think about the consequences of speeding the next time you get behind the wheel and reduce your speed accordingly.”

RSA Chairperson, Liz O’Donnell said: “Previous research based on preliminary Garda crash scene reports estimated that excessive speed was a factor in 15% of fatal collisions. The report published today, using data from An Garda Síochána Forensic Investigation Files, shows that excessive speed plays a more significant role in collisions on our roads, accounting for one in three fatal collisions analysed between 2008 and 2012. The faster you drive, the more likely you are to kill or seriously injure yourself or someone else if you are involved in a collision. Slow down – drive at a speed that is appropriate to the conditions and your experience, and remember a speed limit is not a target.”

The RSA and Applegreen have teamed up to provide free cups of coffee to drivers in an effort to combat driver fatigue. Between 2pm and 8pm on Friday, April 29 and Monday, May 2, drivers can get a free cup of coffee at any Applegreen service station around the country by mentioning ‘RSA’ or the ‘Driver Reviver’ campaign to the till operator.