Late Late Show legend Gay Byrne is leaving his job as chairman of the Road Safety Authority.
The RTE star, who will step down from his position next month, hit out at the RSA, claiming people aren’t taking the campaigns seriously.
“You are as safe as houses now in Ireland drinking your skull off and driving any day of the week provided it is not a bank holiday weekend.
“They make a big song and dance about saying: ‘This bank holiday weekend we are going to be out in force.’ And they are. For the bank holiday weekend,” he said.
“I have been complaining for the last year about the lack of resources, the lack of equipment and the lack of fleet given to An Garda Siochana to do the job they are supposed to be doing,” he told the Sunday Independent.
The TV legend added that people are becoming relaxed about “breaking the law” because there isn’t enough enforcement anymore.
“And once the perception gains ground that there is little likelihood of you meeting a yellow jacket around the next bend, then you start being complacent and you start being relaxed and you start breaking the law.
“You forget about speed limits. You forget about seat belt wearing. You forget about mobile phone use. You forget about manners. You forget about lane drill.
“Why? Because you haven’t seen a garda on a motorbike for a long time and you haven’t seen a garda in a yellow jacket for a long time.
“And so there is no enforcement,” he claimed.
Gay has notified Transport Minister Leo Varadkar of his decision to retire from the position.
“He asked me to stay on for an extra two years and I have said no. I just want to get out because of my 80th birthday,” he added.
