Alarm as 12 die on county's roads since January

THERE is growing concern over the number of road fatalities in Co Galway this year, with 12 deaths already recorded, equalling the total number of deaths for 2011, with only half the year gone. In 2010 the number of fatalities dropped to six, the lowest on record for Co Galway, and Gardai were concerned when this figure increased to 12 in 2011. This alarming rise is causing such concern at County Hall that officials are stepping up their liaison meetings with the Gardai and are planning to introduce new initiatives and policies in an effort to tackle the problem. The latest fatality was at Cloonmore Bridge outside Tuam where 80-year-old Mary Shaughnessy from Tuam lost her life in a four-car collision on Wednesday last at approximately 4.45pm. Two other people were taken to hospital for treatment as a result of the accident.[private] However, the average figure for road fatalities is decreasing nationally, and senior Gardai and Co Council management hope this alarming figure for Galway, so early in the year, is an aberration, and not a reversal of positive downward trends in recent years. Garda Forensic Collision investigators and Co Council engineers are investigating the circumstances of all 12 fatalities, and the early indications are that driver error rather than external factors features prominently. The authorities are concerned that in a number of the fatalities recorded since the year began, speed and not wearing seatbelts may have been crucial factors. Single-vehicle accidents also feature prominently. Unusually, males under the age of 25 do not form the dominant profile in these deaths. Director for Roads and Transportation with Galway Co Council, Frank Gilmore, told The Tuam Herald that the hike in road deaths was puzzling for the authorities and they were very worried over this alarming number of deaths on Galway's roads in such a short period. The council has their own accident teams compiling reports on all of the accidents to see if road conditions were a contributory factor. He added that the Co Council was working very closely with the Gardai in these cases and there was always an investigation following a fatality. He did not want to preempt the findings of any investigation, but he could say that the early indicators were that road conditions have not been a major factor in these accidents. Un-realigned minor roads were an issue, he said, adding that drivers need to be made more aware of how to tailor their driving to suit prevailing road conditions. Given the volume of traffic and the extent of the county's road network, he said, national statistics would indicate that we could expect to see an average of between ten and 12 fatalities on Galway's roads in a year. 12 deaths before 2012 is even half way over is an alarming total, but there was no real way of explaining such a cluster and they could only work harder to ensure roads and conditions were as safe as they could reasonably be. [/private]