Ireland was recognized Tuesday for the substantial cuts in its road deaths since 2001, RTE reports.
The European Transport Safety Council presented Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey with its 2010 road safety award to acknowledge a 41 percent cut in road deaths.The ETSC is acknowledging the efforts made by the Government, the Road Safety Authority and motorists in reducing road deaths.The Government has attributed the fall to a combination of improvements in road design, education and Garda enforcement. The ETSC also praises mandatory alcohol testing, introduced in 2006, and tougher penalties for drink driving, introduced in 2007, and hard-hitting media campaigns.
But the Executive Director of the ETSC, Antonio Avenoso, while praising the Government's achievements, warned against complacency and said the council would be watching closely to ensure that the authorities commit to their plan of rolling out speed cameras in October this year.
