N6 will be deadliest road in Ireland

Date Published: 28-Feb-2008

THE proposed new dual carriageway between Galway and Dublin could become one of the country’s worst deathtraps. Concern has been raised that there will be just two designated rest areas along most of the route after it is completed.

Figures released by the Road Safety Authority reveal that 20% of road fatalities are caused by driver fatigue — a close second to drunk driving. Fears have been expressed that motorists on the journey between Galway and Dublin will just have a couple of chances to pull in and take a rest.

And motorists are not being advised to pull into the sides of dual carriageways as the Road Safety Authority say that this is not a safe practice.

Work on the dual carriage way is progressing steadily and it is understood that the link to Galway city will be completed by 2010. There are no plans by the National Roads Authority to provide serviced areas along the new stretches of road which will allow motorists to stop and rest.

Galway East TD Paul Connaughton raised this issue at a meeting of the Oireachtas Transport Committee and said that the new road could become a death-trap. He said that it was vitally important that drivers be given regular opportunities to safely pull in to either serviced or unserviced lay-byes.

Deputy Connaughton said that ……..