Mayo Coroner suggests drivers take refresher courses to reduce road deaths

THE Coroner for Mayo has suggested that motorists take refresher courses and take greater responsibilities for their driving in light of the high number of road deaths so far this year.

Patrick O'Connor, the Coroner for the District of Mayo made his comments following the deaths of four people on roads in the west of Ireland in recent days.

So far this year, 55 people have lost their lives in incidents on roads with seven of those deaths taking place on roads in Co Mayo.

On Tuesday, 47-year-old Una Bowden and her young daughters Ciara and Saoirse lost their lives in a horror collision with a truck on the N17 at Castlegar, between Knock and Claremorris.

Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio One this morning, Mr O'Connor said that while authorities have a responsibility to identify areas where accidents have happened and to learn from them, motorists should also behave responsibly and not take risks.

“The 55 deaths on the roads [so far] in Ireland this year really does not give the significance of the number of other injuries that are caused to hundreds of people.

“If you multiply that out through the community, you're talking about thousands of people that are affected by either deaths or serious injuries,” he said.

Mr O'Connor also suggested that drivers should take refresher tests when they are renewing their licence to remind them of the dangers on the road.

“Why not have a system where the person who wants to renew their licence after a ten-year period must do a course, whether it's online or otherwise, and produce that certificate. The course itself would just remind people of the dangers of driving, but also the rules of the road and what should be observed,” he commented.

Meanwhile, An Garda Siochána has commenced a Bank Holiday Roads Enforcement Operation for the Easter Bank Holiday 2024 with the aim of the campaign to protect vulnerable road users, and the reduction in fatal and serious collisions through high-visibility roads policing and enforcement.

The An Garda Síochána enforcement operation over the Bank Holiday weekend commenced at 7am on Thursday and will continue until 7am on Tuesday, April 2.

The Easter Bank Holiday Weekend is one of the busiest periods for road users and is a period where the risk of a fatal or serious injury collision is high.

An Garda Síochána is urging all road users to be safe this Bank Holiday weekend and stated that the enforcement operation is focusing on the dangers of intoxicated driving, speeding, mobile phone use /distracted driving, and seatbelt offences. There will also be a focus on increasing drivers’ awareness of the dangers of driving on mornings, following nights out, and reinforcing to drivers that there is a strong possibility of being stopped and tested for alcohol and/or drugs.