‘The figures are improved, but they are still not good enough.’
In 2018, there were a recorded 149 road deaths in Ireland, marking a 4% decrease in the numbers of 2017, as well as being the lowest number since road death records began in 1959.
Of the 149 road deaths, 63 were car drivers, 15 were motorcyclists, 9 were cyclists, 21 were car passengers, and 41 were pedestrians.
Back in 1959, the first full year of road traffic fatalities, there were 306 recorded deaths. It reached a high of 640 in 1972, before slowly beginning to decrease.
2011 was the first year the road death numbers dropped below 200, with 2018 finding the lowest road deaths yet.
Commenting on the country’s road safety performance as 2018 draws to a close Shane Ross, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport said:
“Although the figures are marginally improved, they are not good enough. Speed continues to kill, with 130,000 drivers found to be committing speeding offences in 2018.
“Drink driving persists and unaccompanied learner drivers continue to break the law. Reckless road users cannot be allowed to ruin the lives of innocent others and their families. In 2019 the crusade to improve road safety and save lives will accelerate.”
Over a thousand drivers were found speeding across just four days during the Christmas break, with some drivers found to be going at some truly scary speeds.
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