The Government has been told to “start protecting the innocent” after a weekend of death and tragedy on Ireland’s roads.
On Saturday around midday, a man and a woman in their 40s died, after the car they were driving collided with a van in Tramore, County Waterford.
Later that evening, an elderly woman died after the car she was driving crashed in Eyrecourt, County Galway.
That same evening in Navan, County Meath, a 16 year old pedestrian died in a hit and run incident. A man in his 20s has since been arrested in connection to the incident.
While in County Armagh, three people died in a three vehicle collision on Saturday night.
It means across the island of Ireland, seven people died from road crashes in a single weekend.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Irish Road Victims Association Vice President Leo Leighio said all road users have a responsibility to drive safely at all times.
“Every single one of us, we all carry a huge responsibility when we get behind the wheel of our cars, or a bus or a truck,” he explained.
“We're the ones that make the choices, we're the ones that decide whether to speed, or use our mobile phone, or drink and drive.
“I used to say that most of us obey the law - but at the moment, I'm not so sure.
“There are people out there that don't seem to care.”
Gardaí at the scene of a fatal crash. Picture by: Ellen Butler / Bauer Media Audio Ireland. Mr Leighio added that bad drivers no longer “fear” encountering Gardaí because there is so little enforcement of the rules.
He continued that the community of road victims are all “very angry and disappointed” with the Government.
“The ministers and the dogs are telling us that they have all these plans, that they're going to do this and they're going to do that there,” he said.
“But talking's not good enough; they need to put these plans into action immediately, they need to show some kind of urgency. There's life saving measures there that they can bring in straight away.
“Double penalty points immediately, roll out mobile phone and seatbelt cameras nationwide.
“Increase the static and covert speed enforcement, introduce mandatory alcohol interlocking devices for offenders and fleet trucks, make speed limiters linked to GPS on all commercial fleets.
“Allow the Gardaí to stop anybody on the road for a drink or drug testing.”
A member of An Garda Siochana places flowers given by the public near the scene of the crash. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie. Mr Leighio added that many people who are brought before the courts for dangerous driving end up with a simple “slap on the wrist” and are rarely given a custodial sentence.
It means, he believes, the legal system is not much of a deterrent.
“They need to start protecting the innocent,” he urged.
“A suspended sentence is bad, it's not going to work.”
Last year, 190 people died because of crashes on the roads in the Republic of Ireland, 14 more than in the previous year.
In the Programme for Government, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael said they would work to 'reduce road deaths and create safer roads for everyone in Ireland.'
They promised to "crack down on dangerous driving" by introducing a new penalty point system and "maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of road safety enforcement".
Main image: Gardaí at the site of a serious crash. Picture by: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie.
