'Zero deaths' hope not unrealistic says Mullingar RSA appointee

A leading Westmeath road safety campaigner who has just been appointed to the board of the Road Safety Authority believes that it’s not unrealistic to hope for a time when there are zero road deaths in this country.

“These are not [deaths through] incurable diseases: we know the causes and we can change our behaviour,” says Donna Price, of the Irish Road Victims Association (IRVA).

A full-time voluntary road safety campaigner since losing her own son, Darren, in a fatal accident near Tyrrellspass in 2006, Donna said this week that she uses her experience to try to prevent other families suffering similar pain.

“One death is too many,” she said.

Mrs Price is one of two new appointees to the RSA announced on Monday by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross TD. Joining the board alongside Mrs Price is Gillian Treacy.

“I am delighted that our new board members are active in the area of road safety advocacy,” said Minister Ross.

“Their bravery in the face of personal tragedy has already inspired others and made many aware of the significant dangers on our roads. Their passion and their personal experiences will drive the board to take further measures in pursuit of saving lives.”

Figures released on Tuesday of last week by the RSA showed that nationally, road deaths reached a record low last year.

The RSA figures show that there was a 15 per cent drop in road deaths in 2017 compared to 2016. Up to December 31, 2017 a total of 158 people lost their lives on Ireland’s roads as a result of 143 fatal crashes, compared to 186 lives lost in 174 fatal crashes in the previous year.

Previously, 2015 (with 162 deaths) was the safest year on record.

Mrs Price said that she welcomed the progress that is being made, and she attributed it to a variety of factors, including the bolstering of the numerical strength of the garda traffic corps and the establishment of the RSA in 2006, which increased awareness of road safety issues;

“In 2006, the year that Darren died, 365 people lost their lives – one for every day of the year.”

But, she added, she was concerned that while the garda traffic corps numbers were increased to 1,200, they have now fallen back to a strength of just 700.

“We need more gardaí in the traffic corps,” she said.