FIVE PEOPLE are expected to be killed on Irish roads and 21 seriously injured over the August bank holiday weekend, if the experience of recent years is repeated, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has warned.
Tomorrow, the RSA will launch a campaign aimed at reducing crashes on what is one of the worst periods for deaths and serious injuries in the Republic.
“There are people now. . . and all that is on their minds is their plans for the weekend – come Monday morning, their families will be making funeral plans,” said an RSA spokesman.
While bank holiday road deaths have fallen dramatically from 12 in 2000 to four last year, the likelihood is that there will still be serious incidents.
Figures for recent years show the number of deaths over the August bank holiday fell to two in 2001, before rising to eight in 2002 and back to three in 2005, increasing to four last year.
Some 22 people were seriously injured over the August bank holiday weekend in 2000; nine in 2006; and 11 last year.
The RSA campaign will incorporate its “He drives, she dies” campaign, discouraging young women from travelling with someone who drives recklessly. It will also include the results of a new survey of seatbelt usage, to be published in coming days.
RSA communications manager Brian Farrell advised people to leave plenty of time for their journeys, to expect traffic and wear seat belts.
