‘Speed kills’, warns Cllr Brady

Speed on main and country roads was brought up by Cllr Niamh Brady (FG) at a recent meeting of Cavan County Council, which is a particular issue during dark evenings.

“Speed kills,” she said, delivering the stark message to her council colleagues.

She said the issue is brought up “time and time again” because speed related incidents are “far too common”.

Nowadays, Cllr Brady observed that “speed is the ultimate goal” in all aspects of life, and this also applies when people sit in behind the steering wheel.

“The speed limit is in place for a reason,” she warned.

To those who are rushing or those who fear they are going to be late, she said a “minor delay could prevent a tragedy”.

Lives can be “tragically altered” due to speed, she cautioned and added that “we must all lead by example” and “change our behaviour” on the road.

Cllr Niall Smith (FF) supported the motion, as did Cllr Winston Bennett who chided people who “go out in dark clothes” making it difficult for motorists to see them.

He made the following appeal to those who are out running, walking or cycling on the roads: “Please wear a high visibility vest.”

To motorists he said: “Drive with your lights on day and night.”

“Why people go out without a high visibility jacket is beyond me,” Cllr Damien Brady (SF) said.

He supported the motion on speed, however he said there is now a “new danger”, which is “really, really, bright lights on cars”.

“It’s startling when they are coming towards you,” he remarked.

On the issue of speed and driving in general, he said: “Some people nearly need to go back and learn the rules of the road again.”

Cllr Patricia Walsh (FF) supported the motion, and recalled the tragic news recently of five young people who were lost “in one incident”.

“Especially coming up to Christmas, slow down and think of others,” she urged.

Meanwhile, Cllr Carmel Brady (FG) said there “doesn’t seem to be a simple answer” to the issue of speed, and gave her full support to her party colleague’s motion.

Cllr Clifford Kelly (FF) shared the story of a “young driver” who “flew” past him recently coming into an s-shaped bend on the road.

“I didn’t get the registration number of the car but, if I had, I definitely would have reported them,” he told those gathered.

Meanwhile, Cllr T.P. O’Reilly said that an “increase in population means and increase in traffic”.

He asked people to “allocate a bit more time to reach their destination”.

“It’s not up to the council to tell people how to drive,” he pointed out, adding that “texting and driving” is a “major problem”.

He described the “rage” of some drivers when caught in traffic and how people can become “so frustrated” after just mere “seconds” waiting at a traffic lights.

Cllr O’Reilly added there is “one way to stop speeding and that is fines.”

Cllr Trevor Smith (FG) supported the motion, as did Cllr John Paul Feeley (FF) who finds it “amazing” that people drive their cars with “no lights”. To pedestrians, he asked them to consider if some roads are “really safe for walking”.

“Wear high visibility vests and turn on your lights,” he encouraged, also asking motorists to be “aware” while driving that there may be pedestrians or cyclists.