MOTORISTS HAVE been warned to slow down today on roads which are becoming increasingly dangerous due to the continuing cold weather.
The freezing fog and black ice which have become a feature of secondary roads throughout the State in the last fortnight are now also causing severe problems on motorways and national routes. Met Éireann has warned that it will become noticeably colder on New Year’s Eve, with strong Arctic winds.
A woman was killed yesterday when a minibus travelling to the Leopardstown races crashed on the N11 bypass at Gorey in Co Wexford. An ambulance and Garda car which came to assist at the scene also skidded and left the road.
There was a five-car collision on the M1 north of Dublin yesterday, with reports of severe icy conditions between Donabate/Lissenhall and Balbriggan.
The N4 Lucan Road inbound, usually one of the busiest routes in the country, was closed yesterday at the Palmerstown bypass, meaning that motorists coming from the west of Ireland had to find alternative routes into Dublin city centre.
AA public affairs spokesman Conor Faughnan said motorways were usually the safest roads to drive on, but accidents that did occur on them were often much worse than on other routes. Motorways were also particularly susceptible to freezing fog, which hampered visibility. “We repeat the warning to motorists to drive with absolute care on motorways,” he said. “Drive to the conditions. You must be able to brake as far as you can see, so the message is to make sure that you slow down when visibility is restricted.”
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) urged road users to take extra care as weather forecasts warned the cold spell looks set to continue into the first week of the new year.
“Road users are urged to check local weather and traffic reports before setting off on a journey. In particular, road users should heed any Garda advice urging motorists not to make any unnecessary journeys,” a spokesman for the authority said.
Most locations had another frosty and icy night last night, and temperatures will not be much above freezing in the northern half of the country. Rain which spread from the south last night could turn to sleet and snow in parts of Munster and Leinster later today.
The northern half of the country will be dry but cold and there will be frost and icy conditions tonight and for the rest of the week.
The Leopardstown meeting was abandoned yesterday after just four races due to fog with the feature Lexus Chase called off because of poor visibility. It will be run today.
Pedestrians have encountered worsening problems in the conditions, with emergency units experiencing an upsurge due to broken bones after falls on snow or ice.
