e-metro.ie 08.02.2010 A drive along the quays at 30kmh prompted councillor Dermot Lacey to call for the limit there to increase to 50kmh. Mr Lacey experienced for himself the dismay drivers have been complaining of since the arrival of the 30kmh speed limit P4 news Councillors speed limit U-turn Foreign Affairs minister Michel Martin has defended a multi-million- euro revamp of the residence of the Irish ambassador to Canada. The taxpayer is believed to have forked out 4.4million to refurbish the luxurious home in Ottawa P5 news 4m revamp of diplomats house Giovanni Trapattoni says he believes the spirit and character shown in last Novembers crushing World Cup play-off defeat in Paris can get Ireland to the finals of Euro 2012 P24 sPORT Trapattoni looks to Euro 2012 Deaths on roads down by a thirdIRISH road users have been ranked the tenth safest in an international study, it emerged yesterday. Road deaths have dropped by almost a third in recent years, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-opera- tion and Development (OECD). However serious concerns were raised that young people, especially 18 to 20- year-olds, are still three times more likely to be victims of a collision. The Road Safety Authority thanked road users for improving the culture of safety on the road: Ireland was the fifth most improved country out of 27 participating OECD countries world- wide in 2008 when compared to 2007, said a spokesman. As a result, Ireland is now ranked the tenth safest out of these 27 countries, with 6.3 fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants in 2008. The report revealed that despite the number of vehicles on the road quadru- pling between 1970 and 2008, fatalities almost halved, and that road deaths dropped by 30 per cent between 2005 and 2008. The OECD report also found that for a motorcyclist, the risk of dying in a traffic crash per kilometre travelled is about 23 times higher than that for a car occupant. Elsewhere, a road safety advocacy group called for immediate action to save lives. Public Against Road Car- nage (PARC) demanded Transport Minister Noel Dempsey pass legisla- tion to ensure drivers involved in a col- lision attended by garda are automati- cally tested for alcohol and/or drugs. Founder Susan Gray said the regula- tion would act as one of the greatest deterrents to drink and drug driving in Ireland and would also enable proper scientific analysis of the role alcohol and drugs play in road collisions. There are hundreds of families across Ireland who have lost their loved ones in a crash and who still, to this day, do not have answers telling them why this happened, said Ms Gray. At theirAGM in Dublin, PARC mem- bers also backed the proposed lower blood alcohol limit for drivers of 0.05 (50mg per 100ml of blood) and 0.02 for professional and novice drivers. By Sarah Stack The Kooks frontman Luke Pritchard admitted he didnt know what was going on during his romance with OC star Mischa Barton. The 24- year-old said his life was swept away by wild partying and showbiz P6 GUILTY PLeAsURes Kooky romance wIn! A romantic trip for 2 to Italy Fancy a trip to Italy? Find the romantic couple for a chance to win this fantastic prize P9 Winning in style: Charmaine Kenny was voted Best Dressed Lady at the Hennessy Gold Cup, Leopards- town, Dublin, yesterday Picture: Patrick OLeary Teenage matador star sets bloody record P10 index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html