Eight of the 20 stretches of road on the list are located in Galway.
A stretch of road from Clifden to Leenaun in west Galway is the most treacherous in the country, according to analysis by a location intelligences services provider.
According to Gamma Location Intelligence, which provides location-based insights to insurance companies and local authorities in Ireland, the N59 between Clifden and Leenaun is the most treacherous in the country.
The N59, in fact, appears nine times on the list of the most dangerous stretches of roads, both in Galway and in Mayo.
The road between Abbey Square Roundabout and Seamus Rafter Bridge in Enniscorthy in Wexford is the second most treacherous road, while the third is at the Killashee Street, Ballymahon Street and New Street junction in Longford town.
The analysis is derived from data from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) from 2015 to 2017 which shows the roads with the highest collision rates (injury collisions per 100 million vehicle kilometres).
The data is restricted to motorway and national roads only; a vehicle kilometre is based on the number of vehicles using the road segment and its length.
Eight of the roads ranked as the 20 most treacherous are located in Galway, four are in Clare, with two apiece in Cork and Mayo.
You can see the top 20 worst accident black spots and their collision rates in full below.
- Galway – N59, east of Kylemore Lough, from Clifden to near Leenaun, 3.7km west of junction with R344 (1131)
- Wexford – Between Abbey Square Roundabout and Seamus Rafter Bridge in Enniscorthy (588)
- Longford – Killashee Street, Ballymahon Street and New Street junction in Longford town (281)
- Galway – N59, 1.3km west of Letterfrack (259)
- Tipperary – N62, southeast of Roscrea, directly northeast of junction with R445 (251)
- Galway/Mayo – N59, crossing at Galway-Mayo border (249)
- Galway – N59, 1.8km west of Moyard (236)
- Clare – N67, 1.3km north of junction with R484 (235)
- Clare – N67, junction with R477 (220)
- Galway – N59, junction with R344 (217)
- Mayo – N59, south of Aasleagh, directly north of Galway border (216)
- Galway – N59, 1.1km northeast of Letterfrack (200)
- Clare – N67, directly south of junction with R482 (197)
- Cork – Washington Street to Merchant’s Quay (197)
- Galway – N59, 3km west of junction with R336 (195)
- Galway – N59, 1.5km north of Leenaun, directly south of Mayo border (191)
- Clare – N67, 2.9km north of junction with R484 (187)
- Waterford – N72, north of Tallowbridge, directly west of junction with R634 (184)
- Leitrim – N16, bridge over the Glenfarne River, 1.1km west of junction with R281 (184)
- Cork – N72, junction with R630, north of Fermoy (167)
The insights also show the most dangerous major road segment in each county in the Republic of Ireland and their collision rates; see below:
- Carlow – N81, at the Yellowford Cross Roads, 3km north of Rathvilly (46)
- Cavan – N55, 1.5km south of Ballinagh (161)
- Clare – N67, 1.3km north of junction with R484 (235)
- Cork – Washington Street to Merchant’s Quay, junction with R258 (197)
- Donegal – N56, bridge over the Clady River, junction with R258 (125)
- Dublin – M50, Exit 5 (51)
- Galway – N59, east of Kylemore Lough, 3.7km west of junction with R344 (1131)
- Kerry – N23, junction with N22 (119)
- Kildare – Duke Street and Leinster Street junction in Athy (115)
- Kilkenny – N78, through Castlecomer (110)
- Laois – N78, directly north of junction with R431 (92)
- Leitrim – N16, bridge over the Glenfarne River, 1.1km west of junction with R281 (184)
- Limerick – N24, junction with Limerick South Ring Road (71)
- Longford – Killashee Street, Ballymahon Street and New Street junction in Longford town (281)
- Louth – N2, through Ardee, from junction with R170 to junction with N33 (73)
- Mayo – N59, south of Aasleagh, directly north of Galway border (216)
- Meath – N52, through Carlanstown (61)
- Monaghan – N54, through Clones, 1km from Northern Ireland border (97)
- Offaly – N62, north of Kennedy’s Cross Roads, 3km north of Birr (112)
- Roscommon – Bridge Street and Shop Street junction in Boyle (107)
- Sligo – Duck Street in Sligo town centre (164)
- Tipperary – N62, southeast of Roscrea, directly northeast of junction with R445 (251)
- Waterford – N72, north of Tallowbridge, directly west of junction with R634 (184)
- Westmeath – N52, halfway between Delvin and Mullingar, 4.8km southwest of Delvin (77)
- Wexford – Between Abbey Square Roundabout and Seamus Rafter Bridge in Enniscorthy (588)
- Wicklow – N81, south of Poulaphouca Bridge, 1.8km north of junction with R411, just east of Kildare border (76)
Speaking about the data, Director of Location Intelligence for Gamma, Richard Garry, said: “Overall, according to the data provided by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, collision rates are decreasing across the country. However, there are specific stretches of roads where the frequency of collisions is still high.
“Not only does this analysis show drivers where they need to take extra care, it is also useful for insurance companies as it identifies the areas which are worst for road accidents and enables them to better assess risk.”
