Munster Express Online

Kieran Foley reports

WATERFORD’S roads are the safest in the country, according to local Gardaí.
There have been no fatal or serious accidents on Waterford’s roads so far in 2016, according to figures presented at last week’s Waterford City & County Joint Policing Committee (JPC).
There were three serious accidents on Waterford’s roads in the same period last year.
Superintendent Chris Delaney said Gardaí were very satisfied with this year’s statistics, but stated that it was “a work in progress”.
He said Operation Thor had helped contribute, stating that there was a direct correlation with a Garda presence on the ground and the reduction in serious accidents.
“When people see a checkpoint they get out their phones and tell others that there’s a checkpoint. That’s fine because the word spreads quickly and there’s a huge preventative aspect in that,” he said.
Cllr Pat Fitzgerald (SF) welcomed the absence of fatalities and serious accidents and asked if it was a national trend or due to “diligent policing” in Waterford.
In response, Supt John Mulligan said councillors could take comfort from the fact that Waterford has “the safest roads in the country at the moment”.
“However the challenge is to maintain this,” he said.
Supt Mulligan said there had been 46 road deaths in the country so far this year – compared to 41 for the same period last year.
He said the increase of five deaths was due to “varying reasons”.
“There are a number of reasons, but I stress the importance of wearing your seatbelt,” he said.
He complimented drivers throughout Waterford and the South-East region for playing their part.
“We have the safest roads in the country and the South-East is the safest region in terms of road fatalities. The challenge is to keep that going,” he said.
Cllr Fitzgerald asked about signs which were on display on entering different counties which displayed how many people had been killed on that county’s roads.
He said such signs had made him “sit up and think” but said he hadn’t seen such signs in a long time and asked if they were still being used.
He asked if the signs had been erected by the Gardaí or the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
In response, Supt Mulligan said the signs hadn’t been erected by the Gardaí but said the message was of “great benefit”.
“When you come into an area that you are not familiar with, it does focus the mind,” he said.
He agreed with Cllr Fitzgerald that the signs were good for “getting the message out there” but said the signs were not the responsibility of the An Garda Síochána.
Cllr Eddie Mulligan (FF) asked if the council could look at erecting such signs within Waterford.
CEO of Waterford City & County Council Michael Walsh said the signs were the responsibility of the RSA and were discontinued a few years ago.
He said they didn’t work as “anything other than temporary” and added that he wouldn’t recommend erecting the signs.
Meanwhile, Supt Chris Delaney said there had been an increase in the number of people who had been detected driving under the influence of drugs.
He said Gardaí now have extra powers in relation to the charge of driving under the influence of drugs, and acknowledged that people may need “a period to adapt”.
“But as far as we’re concerned, the law is clear,” he said.
He said Gardaí were targeting “a much wider group of people” for driving under the influence of drugs.