'Recession could lead to increase in road deaths'
THE road safety watchdog has warned that the recession could lead to an increased number of deaths on Irish roads.
Motorists were not replacing worn tyres or paying to maintain their cars, which could see an increase in the numbers of people killed or seriously injured. RSA chief executive Noel Brett, told the Dail Transport Committee he expected some motorists not to insure their cars because of the downturn.
And unless garda enforcement was maintained, he said, road deaths could climb. Last year saw the lowest number of deaths on Irish roads in almost 50 years when 279 people were killed. In 1959, 305 people were killed, which until 2008 was the lowest year on record.
