Louth TD calls for greater road safety enforcement in Dundalk

Louth Independent TD Peter Fitzpatrick has called for more enforcement when it comes to implementing road safety measures.

Speaking in the Dail yesterday noted the recent rise in road fatalities, saying: "As recently as five years ago, Ireland was being celebrated within the EU for road safety following a reduction in fatalities of over 40% yet this week Ireland's road death toll hit 100 people, meaning the overall number is now 14% higher than last year and we are just over halfway through the year." 

He warned that 2024 is on course to be the deadliest year for traffic fatalities in 15 years.

Highlighting incidents in Louth, Fitzpatrick referenced a three-car accident at Bellurgan petrol station and a collision near exit 17 northbound where a car and caravan hit each other causing significant damage. 

"This is causing a lot of tragedy in local communities," he said.

He called for greater enforcement, education, and infrastructure improvement to address the core issues of speeding, drink, and drug driving. He also called for increased funding for the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and better dissemination of crash data to local authorities.

Responding to Fitzpatrick, Tánaiste Micheál Martin acknowledged the seriousness of the situation. 

"We have all been shocked by the recent loss of life on our roads and concerned by the worrying increase in road fatalities," Martin said. 

He pointed to the Road Traffic Act 2024, which includes reforms to the penalty point system, mandatory drug testing at serious collision scenes, and the implementation of safer default speed limits. Martin said that societal commitment and proactive legislative measures are crucial in reducing road deaths.

Martin pointed to funding for GoSafe speed cameras, ensuring 9,000 hours of monitoring per month throughout 2024. 

"We all have to watch our own behaviour," he urged, noting that every uniformed member of An Garda Síochána now conducts 30 minutes of high-visibility roads policing per shift.

Fitzpatrick, however, pressed further, expressing frustration over what he said was lack of enforcement. 

“Our roads are not safe. I ask the Tánaiste to please listen. Our footpaths are not safe. You cannot even go on a footpath now because of e-scooters and bicycles. Our loved ones are passing away. These are things that can be prevented. 

“On behaviour, when the Tánaiste and I were children - we are roughly the same age - we could go out our front doors and play a bit of football on the streets. Those days are long gone. There is no respect any more,” he said.

He continued: “I have lived in the Dundalk area for the past number of years. I do not know when I was last stopped at a checkpoint. I am lucky enough in that I do not drink, and I pay tax on my car and do not have a problem, but it seems enforcement has completely and utterly stopped.”

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The Louth TD stressed the necessity of visible enforcement and called on the government to take more decisive action against speeding, drugs, and drink driving.

The Tánaiste responded by acknowledging the behavioural aspect of road safety, reflecting on historical periods with even higher fatalities despite fewer cars. He reiterated the importance of drug testing and the role of human behaviour in road safety. 

"All levels, including human behaviour, An Garda Síochána, strengthening the legislation on limits, and the national road safety camera framework and so forth, are required to get these numbers down," Martin concluded.