Gardai say summer months most risky for motorists after four people die on Irish roads over weekend

Seven people died on Irish roads in the past week, with Gardai warning that this is the most dangerous time of the year for road fatalities.

Four people died on the State’s roads at the weekend, including three male motorcyclists and a six-year-old boy from Ballycullen who died yesterday after being struck by a van on Friday.

Two motorcyclists from Limerick died on Saturday evening. A man in Cabra was critically injured as he got off his bike in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The deaths bring the number of fatalities on Irish roads so far this year to 93, including 11 motorcyclists.

There have been 16 road deaths this month, which is a slight drop from the same period last year. In July 2016 there were 21 road fatalities.

An Garda Siochana have appealed to people to exercise caution on the roads during the remaining summer months as these are most ‘high risk’ for drivers.

Assistant Commissioner Michael Finn explained: “This is an extremely high-risk time on the roads. People are on holidays, more relaxed, more off guard.

“There are thousands of visitors from abroad, people travelling to unfamiliar locations, more agricultural machinery on the roads – these all form part of the how and why it’s riskier this time of year.”

Commissioner Finn said that excessive speeding remained an issue, commenting: “People are still speeding, and even in a recent 24 hour period we detected extremely excessive speeds. People are still drink or drug driving, using a mobile phone whilst driving and not wearing safety belts.

“These are high risk actions on the road. An Garda Síochána will continue to target these offences to make the roads safer.”