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Road deaths rise by 4% in 2019
03.01.20
PROVISIONAL road
collision statistics for 2019 show deaths resulting
from road traffic collisions have increased. A total
of 148 people lost their lives in 2019, compared to
142 in 2018, a rise of 4%.
Up to 1pm on the 31 December 2019 a total of 148
people died on Ireland’s roads as a result of 137
fatal crashes, compared to 142 lives lost in 135
fatal crashes in 2018. The figures were published by
the Road Safety Authority (RSA) on Tuesday 31
December 2019, following an analysis of provisional
fatal collision reports by An Garda Síochána. |
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Casualty figures for 2019 compared to
2018. |
Casualty figures for
2019 show that while there has been a sharp drop in
pedestrian deaths, down 15 or 36%, and passenger
deaths, down 4 or 20%, there has been a worrying
increase in the number of drivers killed, up 25 or
45%, compared to 2018.
While there was one more motorcyclist death recorded
in 2019 compared to 2018 (16 versus 15) an overall
analysis of vulnerable road user (VRU) casualties
shows that there was a 23% reduction in VRU
fatalities. |
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Road fatalities in 2019 by county. |
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Ms. Liz O’Donnell,
Chairperson, RSA, said "After recording the safest
year on our roads in 2018 it is deeply saddening
that not only have we lost 148 lives on the road in
2019, but that it represents an increase in road
deaths. We must respond to this increase the same
way we have responded to previous setbacks. Rather
than being disheartened it should spur us and our
road safety partners into renewed effort. 2020 is
also the final year of the Government’s eight year
road safety strategy. Its primary target is to
reduce deaths to 124 or fewer by the end of 2020.
Deeper collaboration between all agencies
responsible for road safety is already taking place
to ensure everything that can be done is being done,
not only to reverse the increase in deaths this
year, but to achieve the strategy target. And it is
a target that is very achievable, put simply it
means saving two more lives a month, every month
next year. Something we should all work together to
do in 2020.” |
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