'Worrying' numbers not wearing seatbelt

Drivers urged not to warn each other of garda vehicles

The head of the Tipperary-Clare Garda Division has described the increasing number of people not wearing seatbelts in vehicles as “worrying”.

A 30% increase in such offences was recorded in Tipperary last year, up to 290 compared to 223 incidents of people not wearing a seatbelt in 2021. This was a cause for concern for Chief Superintendent Colm O'Sullivan at the start of this year.

But he told a recent meeting of Tipperary Joint Policing Committee that the trend is increasing, with another 136 offences detected in the year to date, a 147% increase on the same period in 2022. “That is worrying,” Chief Supt O'Sullivan said, adding that while it is individual responsibility for people over the age of 18 to wear their seatbelt, drivers should take responsibility for their passengers.

“If they're not willing to do it, ask them to get out of your car,” the Chief Super said of passengers that refuse to fasten their seatbelt.

Asked whether these offences could be attributed to a particular demographic, Chief Supt O'Sullivan said people of all ages are being caught not wearing their seatbelt. He spoke of the risk of serious injury this poses.

He also took the opportunity to ask drivers to slow down in accordance with adverse weather conditions. Chief Supt O'Sullivan pointed out that rain falling after a prolonged dry spell can lead to dangerous driving conditions. This was something he witnessed himself on the M8 recently, and while some motorists slowed down or even pulled over and stopped, more continued to drive at 120kmph in torrential rain.

Cllr Noel Coonan asked about the adequacy of speed limits on Tipperary roads.

He said there are many roads where drivers need to exceed the speed limit in order to overtake, and this can often be on straight sections regularly monitored by gardaí or speed vans, which is frustrating for drivers.

Chief Supt O'Sullivan said speed limits are set by local authorities in accordance with legislation. The number of speeding offences in Tipperary decreased slightly this year to 1,226 offences.

He appealed to motorists driving slowly with traffic backed up behind them to pull over “out of courtesy” and allow drivers to overtake them.

Drivers frustrated by slow-moving vehicles often take chances that can result in a serious collision.

But Chief Supt O'Sullivan also asked motorists to consider what they would achieve by speeding. A driver doing 130kmph on a motorway would reach their destination four to five minutes faster than if they drove within the speed limit. “Is it really worth it?” he asked.

And the Chief Super cautioned drivers against flashing their lights at one another, sending out “smoke signals” about the presence of a garda speed checkpoint. He disagreed with the view that detecting speeding is like “shooting fish in a barrel” because word of a speed van or patrol car spreads quickly.

“Maybe you're warning criminals that the guards are around the place,” the Chief Super asked people to consider. “Maybe they're on the way to break into your house.”

ILLEGAL TAXI OPERATORS

Chief Supt O'Sullivan also took the opportunity to warn people of taxi and hackney drivers operating without licence in Tipperary. Taxi drivers are required to display their licence in full view within the vehicle and the licence should include their photograph.

The same applies to hackney drivers, he said.

Cllr Coonan spoke of the shortage of such drivers operating in many parts of Tipperary. There is only one operating in Templemore.

Cllr Ger Darcy said it is “impossible” to get a taxi in the Nenagh area at night. There is a problem with people who have hackney licences but are not using them. There is a limit on the number of licences permitted in an area so new drivers cannot enter the market to provide a service.

Chief Supt O'Sullivan pointed out that a period of full employment presently exists. People are choosing not to drive taxis or hackneys for the sake of working more favourable hours. It is a matter for the National Transport Authority, he said.