A recent review has found that there has been a 7% increase in road deaths in 2019.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána have released information from their review of Irish road safety so far this year.
The review, which up had information from up until 28 July 2019, found that there has been a 7% increase in road deaths in 2019 since last year, with 89 people dying on Irish roads in 80 collisions.
The review found that 49 drivers have been killed in Irish road deaths, while 15 of the deaths so far this year have been pedestrians.
Sunday was shown to be the most dangerous day on Irish roads, with 25% of deaths so far this year happening on the final day of the week.
Meanwhile, it was also found that almost half (48%) of fatalities occurred between 6pm and midnight, and that the age group that is most at risk is those who are 66-years-old or older.
CEO of the RSA Moyagh Murdock said that she was most “alarmed” by the fact that 25% of drivers who died on Irish roads were not wearing seatbelts.
Liz O’Donnell, Chairperson of the RSA said: “Looking to the rest of the year, it is vital that we don’t lose focus on the need for greater enforcement to tackle the main killer behaviours on the road. Key to this is the appropriate resourcing and investment in the roads policing unit.
O’Donnell also praised the new Fixed Charge Penalty app that is currently being trialed, which you can read more about here.
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