‘A CO-ORDINATED APPROACH TO ROAD SAFETY’
Sligo Local Authorities launch Road Safety Plan Sligo Local Authorities have published their ‘Road Safety Plan 2007/2008, and are encouraging motorist in County Sligo to be particularly vigilant on our roads this Christmas. The launch of the publication was attended by the Mayor Councillor Tom McSharry, Cathaoirleach Councillor Jim McGarry, elected members and staff of the Sligo Local Authorities and representatives of the Gardai and Health Service Executive. The Cathaoirleach Councillor McGarry notes that the comprehensive enforcement actions of the Gardai ‘should ensure that motorists exercise extreme caution on our roads. Road safety is not solely an issue for the Local Authorities and the Gardai, the onus is on each and every one of us to take responsibility for our own actions on the roads and to consider other motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.’ The Mayor Councillor Tom McSharry identified road safety as one of the most critical issue facing our community, and encouraged ‘all drivers to take the time to consider their behaviour on our roads and noted that all motorists, young and old, could find means of improving their driving. This is not simply a message for Christmas, the road safety message should be promoted all year around.’	Front row l-r:Sergeant Aidan McGuinness, Seamus Concannon, Director of Infrastructural Services, Mary O Doherty, Health Services Executive Back row l-r:Cllr Gerry Lundy, Cllr Seamus Kilgannon, Cllr Paul Conmy, Tommy Carroll, Senior Engineer, Cllr Tony McLoughlin, Paddy Hughes, Senior Engineer, Cllr Imelda Henry, Cllr Sean MacManus, Cllr Patsy Barry Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council Councillor Jimmy McGarry at the launch of Sligo Local Authorities Road Safety Plan
Director of Services Seamus Concannon, who chairs the ‘Sligo Road Safety Together Committee’ said their objective in publishing the plan was to identify the main issues affecting road safety and to offer a range of useful measures.. ‘One of the greatest challenges facing our society is the issue of road safety. Local Authorities have a duty to work with other agencies to make our roads safer for the motorist, but also to educate and inform the public regarding their responsibilities as road users’ The Road safety Plan was prepared by a local committee made up of staff of the Sligo Local Authorities, Garda Siochana and the Health Service Executive. ‘Our intention is to circulate the plan as widely as possible, targeting every conceivable audience, and to generate feedback which will guide and inform future editions of the plan.’ ‘While road safety is a complex and difficult issue, there are a number of simple steps drivers can adopt which will make our roads safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. We can become complacent or negligent with regular tasks such as using a roundabout, indicating a turn or observing speed limits. One objective is publishing this plan is to prompt motorists to look afresh at their driving habits to see of they can be improved.’ ‘Enforcement and education lie at the heart of the road safety message. While the penalty points are being rigorously enforced, the is also an onus on the Local Authority, the Health Service Executive and other agencies to promote this issue and to keep it high on our agendas. Sligo County Council has analysed accident locations throughout the county and has carried out improvement works at targeted locations under its ‘Low Cost Safety Improvement Scheme’ , and the details of this programme works has been included in the Plan Sligo Local Authorities see this publication very much as a ‘work in progress.’ Our next step early in the new year is to embark on an extensive programme of consultation to ensure our message is being properly delivered. Local schools have agreed to establish focus groups to provide feedback on the plan, and we will extend this process to the wider community.’ Download Safety Plan