| Ireland’s killer roads claim four
more victims  By
Staff Reporter
THE MOUNTING death toll on Irish roads rose to more than 270 this year
as a young woman was one of four people to be killed over the weekend.
It means 273 have so far lost their lives — 11 more than for the
same period last year.
The 24-year-old woman, believed to be from Cork, died after her car was
involved in a collision at Bruff in Limerick.
It happened on the main Limerick-Cork road at a spot known as O’Rourke’s
Cross.
The male driver of the other car was taken to Mallow General Hospital
where his injuries are not life-threatening.
In another tragedy a 60-year-old cyclist died after he was knocked down
in Ennis in Co. Clare.
He was named as John Fitzgibbon from the Tulla Road area of Ennis.
It is understood Mr Fitzgibbon was either walking with his bicycle or
cycling when he was struck by a passing taxi. He was pronounced dead at
the scene.
In Co. Kildare 45-year-old William Lanigan was killed when he was struck
by a van while walking at Donadea in Naas.
And a motorist in his 60s was killed when the car he was driving was in
collision with another car at Moate in Co. Westmeath.
He was named as Cyril O’Reilly of Rathfarnham in Dublin.
Two other people were taken to Tullamore Hospital after the crash but
neither was believed to be seriously injured.
Road safety campaigners say the death toll on Ireland’s roads this
year is almost certain to pass the total for 2005 if current trends continue.
The grim news comes despite a concerted garda crackdown on dangerous driving
and the extension of the penalty points system
Campaigners say more still needs to be done to educate drivers about the
dangers of speed and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Many have called for an education programme to be introduced in schools
across Ireland to teach safe motoring techniques to youngsters even before
they reach the legal driving age.
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