“Ultimately our aim should be zero deaths on our roads.”
The number of people who lost their lives on Irish roads in 2017 went down by 15%, making it the lowest ever total of fatalities on Irish roads.
Sadly, 158 people lost their lives on Irish roads last year down from 186 in 2016 which according to the Road Safety Authority, was the lowest number of deaths since road deaths were first recorded in 1959.
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross said; “It is very encouraging to see that we have reversed the upward trend in road deaths witnessed in 2016. The combined focus on improved legislation, greater enforcement and road safety campaigns all played their part in saving lives. But while it is heartening to see that 2017 was the lowest year on record for road deaths, this is not good enough.
We need to continue our efforts if we are to achieve the objective of reducing fatalities to 124 by 2020. Ultimately our aim should be zero deaths on our roads.”
Minister Ross attributed the reduction of fatalities to greater enforcement which had resulted in higher detection figures and welcomed the commitment from An Garda Siochana that the 2017 increase of 10% in the Traffic Corps will be repeated in 2018.
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