Will reduced speed limits reduce deaths?

THIS WEEK, speed limits on secondary roads are being reduced as part of an initiative to lessen the number of accidents and deaths on our roads. But will this move really achieve anything? Only time will tell.

Fourteen people have died on Irish roads since the start of the year. Included in that dreadful statistic were two young men in their 20s, who died as a result of a single-vehicle accident near Rathoe shortly after 1am on Friday morning.

Four people were in that car – the driver and front-seat passenger were both pronounced dead at the scene while two back-seat passengers, also in their 20s, were hospitalised with severe but non-life-threatening injuries.

It is a grim start to the year. In 2024, a total of 174 people lost their lives on our roads, and while that figure was down from 181 the previous year, no-one would that reduction could be seen as a success. The loss of one life is one too many. That may sound like a cliché, but just think of the heartache the death of a loved one causes to immediate family and friends.

Earlier this week, I listened with interest to former Green Party leader Eamon Ryan on the radio, when he spoke about the number of life-changing injuries as well as deaths on our roads. He accepted people were surviving accidents, where in the past they may have died, but that should not be seen as a success.

The fact of the matter is we all drive too fast. We can blame improvements to the vehicles we drive, soundproofing or whatever, but the reality is most Irish roads, especially secondary or country roads, would put the skills of a trained rally driver to the limit if driven at speed.

As for the condition of the surface of roads all over the country following the recent snow – don’t get me started. Potholes the size of craters have appeared all over the place. Apart from the damage these craters do to cars, they are also extremely dangerous. Hit one and you will find the steering wheel suddenly snapped out of your hand, and God only knows where you will end up.

In addition, while most of our roads have adequate signage warning drivers of twists and turns ahead, how many of us actually pay attention to them? I know I am guilty of ignoring most of those signs, and familiarity also breeds contempt.

I don’t know what caused that dreadful accident on Friday, but the reality is two young people are dead and two more are seriously injured. The amount of heartache for the families of all four is unimaginable. No amount of what ifs are going to bring those young men back to life. As with the three young people who died as a result of an accident not too far from this location on the same day last year, life has moved on for most of us, but not the families and friends of those who lost their lives.

They will never recover. Ask the families and friends of anyone who has died because of a road accident, be they drivers, passengers or just people out for a leisurely walk, and all will tell you the trauma never goes away.

Birthdays, anniversaries, family gatherings and weddings all bring back memories of those who are missing as a result of road accidents, so anything we can do to minimise such deaths must be done.

However, I genuinely believe that reducing the speed on rural roads from 80kph to 60kph will not be observed. Equally, I believe that, later in the year, when speed limits in urban areas, housing estates and town centres go down to 30kph will not be adhered to.

I am not doubting the intentions of those responsible for introducing these changes. Yes, I believe people are driving too fast through built-up areas as well as on most rural roads, but if we do not teach people how to behave correctly from the get-go, we are fighting a losing battle.

Everyone knows it is wrong to drive if you have taken alcohol or drugs, yet every week gardaí stop motorists who are under the influence. We all know it is wrong for drivers to break the speed limit, irrespective of what that is, yet we all do it, some at greater risk to life and limb than others, but we all do it.

I have no idea what the answer is to the high number of deaths on our roads, but reducing the speed limit by 20kph isn’t it. We have to change attitudes to travel, how we drive and how we behave in general. We have become way too aggressive in how we drive. The pace of life has increased greatly in recent years, but unfortunately, this has had a detrimental effect on our driving.

If we are really interested in trying to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on our roads, why not slow down? I don’t know if it will help, but it certainly won’t cause any harm.