Sharp spike in Mayo road deaths

Number of 2015 fatalities already equal to last year’s total

Anton McNulty

MAYO’S Road Safety Officer has described as ‘worrying and disheartening’ the recent increase in the number of deaths occurring as a result of accidents on the county’s roads.
Last week the death of 20-year old LukeLackey from Ballina in a road traffic accident brought the number of deaths so far in 2015 to eleven - the same number as in the whole of 2014.
The number of deaths in Mayo had dropped in recent years, with six people losing their lives in 2013.
Alarmingly, with over two months left in 2015, that number will have doubled in less than two years, if another life is lost on Mayo’s roads this year.
Mayo County Council’s Road Safety Officer, Noel Gibbons, has expressed concern that the recent trend has set 2015 on course to be the worst year in recent times for road deaths. As the evenings grow longer and winter sets in, he is calling on all people who use the county’s roads to be extra vigilant and ensure there are no further road deaths before the end of the year.
“It is definitely disheartening and it is a worrying trend to see the number of people losing their lives on the road rise again this year and already reach last year’s figure. About half of those have been pedestrians and with the change of time over the weekend, people out walking or cycling need to make sure they are seen and drivers need to slow down.
“We have to ask why there has been so many deaths in recent years and if the message is getting across. Last year 194 people lost their lives on the roads in Ireland and 20 percent of those had no seat belts on. That is a huge percentage and you would think in this day and age people will know the importance of wearing their belt,” he told The Mayo News.
Latest fatality
Luke Lackey lost his life when the Toyota Starlet car he was driving left the road and collided with a tree on the old Ballina to Foxford road, at Carrowntreila, Ballina. The single vehicle accident took place close to the entrance of Hotel Ballina place at approximately 6.30pm on Wednesday evening last.
Mr Lackey of 53 Moy Heights, Ballina, was a past pupil of St Muredach’s College in Ballina and is survived by his parents, Desmond and Fiona Lackey and sisters, Emma and Lauren. A large number of people attended his Funeral Mass in St Muredach’s Cathedral on Sunday and he was laid to rest in Leigue Cemetery.
The scene of the accident was closed off following the accident for technical garda examination and was reopened at 11am on Thursday morning. Mr Lackey was the only person in the car at the time of the accident and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Concern
Mr Gibbons said he was also worried at the number of young people losing their lives on the road despite campaigns aimed at them.
“Statistics show that two 18 year-olds in a car doubles the chances of a collision. Our campaigns in schools are ongoing and we will continue to raise awareness with young people. However, this message does not seem to relate back to some young drivers and that is worrying.”
Last week road safety campaigners criticised the low number of people arrested for drink driving who are convicted in court. Between January 2013 and May 2015, just 37 percent of drink driving cases in Mayo resulted in a conviction.
Mr Gibbons said he was not aware the figure was so low until they were released and hoped the low conviction rate does not give encouragement for people to drink and drive.
“The most fought legislation in the county is to do with drink driving and there are so many boxes which gardaí have to tick before someone is convicted. It is a worrying statistic and is something that the courts and the government will have to look at,” he said.
As road safety officer, Mr Gibbons is considered one of the most proactive in the country but added that they will have to look at their road safety campaigns and see where the message is not getting across to the public. He also added that it was up to individuals to take responsibility for their actions.
“Sometimes you have to question where people decide to go walking or cycling. There are so many Greenways and safer places to go which people have to be aware of.
“People cannot leave road safety to the gardaí or to us and they have to do more themselves. With the time changing both drivers and pedestrians have to be aware of the dangers and take steps to avoid them,” he said.