Bad manners and poor identification of black spots are contributing to crashes on the roads, according to the Public Information Officer of the Coroner’s Society of Ireland.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Pat O’Connor said motorists must behave responsibly and not take risks.
“The 55 deaths on the roads [so far] in Ireland this year really does not give the significance of the number of other injuries that are caused to hundreds of people,” Mr O’Connor, who is also coroner for Mayo, said.
“If you multiply that out through the community, you’re talking about thousands of people that are affected by either deaths or serious injuries.”
Mr O’Connor said he has previously suggested that motorists should take refresher driving courses.
He said people study for exams but have then forgotten much of the information weeks later.
“Cars require an NCT test every four years and then they require it every two years and then, depending on the age, every year,” he said.
“Why not have a system where the person who wants to renew their licence after a ten-year period must do a course, whether it’s online or otherwise, and produce that certificate.
“The course itself would just remind people of the dangers of driving, but also the rules of the road and what should be observed.”
His calls come as Gardaí have renewed their warning to road users of the increased risk of being involved in a fatal or serious road traffic collision over bank holiday weekends.
So far this year, 55 people have lost their lives in incidents on roads, an increase of 13 on the same time last year.
Road deaths in the first quarter of the year are now at the highest rate in a decade.
An Garda Síochána’s Easter Bank Holiday road safety enforcement campaign got under way at 7am yesterday.
The operation will remain in place until 7am on Tuesday.
