Press Release
Kildare County Council encourages road users to drive responsibly over May Bank Holiday
As we head into the May Bank Holiday weekend, there is an increase in cyclists and pedestrians using the roads and footpaths for their leisurely cycles and walks. There is also a notable increase in motorcycle traffic on the roads along with drivers making extended journeys and road trips over the long weekend. Road users are being reminded to take care on the roads ahead of the May bank holiday weekend and to be mindful of extra traffic and vulnerable people using the roads.
Kildare County Council supports this weekend’s national road safety campaign, which is being led by An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority.
People are encouraged to take care on the roads this weekend, share the road and be courteous and cautious to others using the road. This comes as provisional road collision figures show that here has been an 8% increase in road deaths to date in 2023.
RSA collision data shows that the May Bank Holiday is a high-risk period for collisions with a total of 7 people killed and 83 people seriously injured over the weekend in the last 5 years. Last year’s bank holiday was a tragic weekend for road safety with four fatalities and 27 people seriously injured.
Kildare’s Road Safety Officer Declan Keogh said “The May Bank Holiday weekend generally sees an increase in traffic volumes on the road, in addition to more people out walking and cycling. Road safety affects everyone and involves everyone, and we are encouraging all road users to share the road with each other, be courteous and cautious, and be mindful of the risks and vulnerabilities experienced by people using the road. It is also generally a busy time for motorcyclists on the road, and they too are reminded of the dangers and risks associated with using the road. Drivers are also being advised to take more time to look out for motorcyclists on the road.”
Enforcement statistics released by An Garda Síochána for last year’s May Bank Holiday show that they detected.
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2,820 speeding incidents
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154 motorists driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, 13% of these were recorded between the hours of 6am and 2pm across the weekend
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91 drivers not wearing a seatbelt
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212 drivers using a mobile phone
An Garda Síochána will have an increased presence on the roads across the country, over the high-risk bank holiday, targeting the four lifesaver offences and dangerous driving activity.
Chief Superintendent Jane Humphries, Garda National Roads Policing Bureau said, “As the May Bank Holiday weekend approaches, we urge you to prioritise safety on the roads. The Gardaí will have a high visibility presence this weekend and a focus on the four lifesaver offences; speeding, mobile phone use while driving, seatbelt compliance and intoxicated driving. It's up to each and every one of us to do our part to keep ourselves and others safe”.
“We focus on these offences as research tells us that they are the biggest causes of fatal and serious injuries on the road. You can do your part this weekend by driving within the speed limit and according to the road and traffic conditions, putting on your seatbelt and ensuring all passengers do likewise before commencing your journey”.
“When behind the wheel, ignore your phone as it’s not worth the distraction. Finally, never ever drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs and remember that you may still be over the limit the following morning. By following these simple guidelines, we can all do our part to prevent accidents and keep our roads safe.
“Let's make this May Bank Holiday weekend a safe and enjoyable one for all.”
Ms. Sarah O’Connor, Director of Partnership and External Affairs, Road Safety Authority said, “I want to appeal to all road users to slow down and take extra care. The roads will be much busier with people travelling on short breaks - many will be travelling to and from sporting and local events too, so the advice is to slow down and expect the unexpected on your journey. I would also specifically appeal to drivers to watch out for people cycling, walking, horse riding and riding motorbikes. By doing so, we can ensure that the weekend remains free of trauma for families. This is not an impossible thing to achieve as there were no fatalities over the recent St. Patrick’s bank holiday weekend – together we can do this again this weekend.”
To date in 2023, a total of 56 people have died on Irish roads, an increase of 4 compared to the same date in 2022.
