YOUNG 'high-risk'
drivers in Co Donegal are to be targeted under a new
five-year road safety strategy for the county.
The move follows the single worst road accident in
the history of the State in which eight men lost
their lives in Inishowen on July 11.
The new Road Safety Plan 2010-2015 was discussed
this week at a meeting between members of the Garda
National Traffic Bureau, the Donegal Road Safety
Working Group and Donegal County Council.
It will focus on the four key areas of education,
engineering, enforcement and evaluation. It will
also try to change driver behaviour among the wider
community, especially among those who engage in
"risky or poor driving behaviour".
Head of the Donegal Garda Traffic Corps, Inspector
Michael Harrison, said the meeting was convened in
light of the tragic two-car collision at Glasmullen
on the main road between Buncrana and Clonmany.
Seven young friends, all passengers travelling in
the same car, died in the accident along with a
66-year old pensioner who was the driver of the
other car. The sole survivor of the accident is
still being treated at Letterkenny Hospital.
Inspector Harrison said: "The purpose (of the
meeting) was to look at all aspects of road safety
in the county and identify any opportunity for added
value within the new road safety plan 2010-2015
through more targeted education and enforcement
initiatives.
"It was agreed that the current approach should be
maintained as it reflects good practice and notable
improvements have been made in recent years."
Meanwhile, a system for further cross-agency
co-ordination between gardaí, Donegal County
Council, the Road Safety Authority and Health
Service Executive was also agreed in a bid to
achieve the plan's targets.
"It was further acknowledged that education of the
high-risk group of road users should remain a
priority and where efforts to change attitudes fail,
robust and targeted enforcement will follow," added
Inspector Harrison.
The Donegal Road Safety Working Group said it would
continue to meet monthly while there would be closer
communications with the Garda National Traffic
Bureau and local authority members to ensure road
safety in Co Donegal remained a top priority. |
