Concern over falling numbers in roads policing

0
301

Road safety groups have raised concerns over a 41% reduction in Garda Road Policing Unit  officers.

The reduction has been reported over a 15 year period, and there are links to a rise in road deaths across Ireland.

New figures for May show that RPU numbers have dropped to 620 officers.

That’s down from a previous count of 629 following a query from the road safety group Parc.

This represents the lowest staffing level since 2009, with the current number of officers now 426 below the peak of 1,046 recorded 15 years ago.

123 people have died on the county’s roads so far this year, 10 more compared to the same time last year.

The deaths so far this year included 49 drivers, 27 passengers, 20 pedestrians, 16 motorcyclists, seven pedal ­cyclists, three e-scooter users and one pillion passenger.

Video Ad by bbvms.com 1