The Road Safety Authority has spent millions in recent years campaigning against speeding, but Mayo County Council seems to be taking an alternative route and turned attention towards those who drive too slow. It is asking them to be more aware of faster drivers behind them and if necessary pull in safely to let them pass. The decision by Mayo County Council was taken following a survey showing that, in the period 1996 - 2010, 6.6% of all road accidents in the county were caused by improper overtaking.
According to Mayo Road Safety Officer Noel Gibbons, "Motorists can experience increased stress levels and heightened irritability when faced with a vehicle driving slower than the rest of the traffic. Slow drivers may unknowingly contribute to other motorists making sometimes fatal overtaking manoeuvres." Gibbons also advised drivers to "regularly check mirrors and be aware of what is behind your vehicle."
Far from a contradiction of the Road Safety Authority's existing campaign against speeding, the move is an attempt to encourage safe driving among all road users. "We're not asking them to speed up, we're asking them to give way to following vehicles. They must be aware of the tail of vehicles behind them and by ignoring that, they're actually driving without due care and attention. The premise is simple: reduce the need to overtake, and it follows there would be less overtaking collisions."
It remains to be seen whether this campaign by Mayo County Council will be implemented in other areas of the country, but Gibbons is keen to stress the logic behind the move: "We are just asking that drivers, whether slow or fast, appreciate they are not alone on the road network and that they have obligations to all other drivers."