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THE NUMBER OF people who died on Irish roads in 2015 was 165, a 15% drop from 2014, the first year figures have declined since 2013.
Figures published by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) show how 2015 saw 158 fatal collisions, resulting in 165 deaths on Irish roads. This meant there were 21 fewer fatal collisions and 28 fewer deaths compared to 2014.
This makes 2015 the second safest year since records began in 1959; the safest year was 2012 when 162 lives were lost. 2013 saw 188 lives lost and 2014 saw that figure increase to 193.
On average, there were 14 deaths every month in 2015, compared to 16 in 2014, while July and December had the highest number with 20 road deaths.
Other noticeable findings from the RSA’s report include:
Commenting on the figures, the chairperson of the RSA Liz O’Donnell said it was difficult to call 2015 a success but said that progress was being made.
It’s difficult to describe 2015 as a success when 165 people lost their lives on the roads … But the number of people being killed on the road is the only way we can measure success or failure and it’s important that people know progress is being made and their efforts are making a difference.
The focus for the RSA in 2016 will be on driver distractions like phone use while driving, the dangers of low-level speeding as well as drink driving and those drivers and passengers not wearing seatbelts.
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Sad news condolences too he’s family and friend’s. look twice think bike
Terrible news, Awful for the family of the person who lost their life. Also terrible for the driver of the car.
For those familiar/not familiar with the junction, cars are always ignoring the stop sign when joining the main road (coming from Conna) and always use the hatched markings as if it’s some sort of slip road, while joining a road that has a 100kmph limit.
This can’t be taken as fact as to what occurred but it is extremely common at this junction, particularly at those hours with people on their way to work. Tragic news this morning.
It’s a Stop sign! Not a slip road.
@Robert Fitzgerald: I’m not familiar with that particular junction but it’s something that happens all the time where junctions have those type of markings. It’s almost as it some motorists see it as a “merge” option. Then they continue driving slowly parallel to the traffic until they get a break in the 100kph traffic. Madness. We don’t know what happened in this case though, and RIP to the victim.
@Robert Fitzgerald: I believe it is 80kmph limit there so I hope you don’t drive the road as you would be speeding and adding to the problems there. But you are correct. That junction can be madness in the morning. People going excessive speed from Rathcormac side and then people trying to join the road by making their own slip road or pushing out in front of cars. There are two lanes ahead so it would mean just taking the extra few seconds to wait and plenty of chance to overtake once on the road.
As you said this may not be the case for what happened this morning but it is a dangerous junction.
@John: when you leave rathcormac village it’s 100kmph, if you are looking at google maps it’s old
@Robert Fitzgerald: Wow ok, then there should be no way it should have been put up to 100. Not that putting it at 60, 80 or 100 would make a difference people will still travel the speed they want. But thanks for the correction.
Condolences to family and friends of the motorcyclist
@John: traditionally it was 100kmph when it was the original Dublin road, it was for a time dropped to 80kmph but then reinstated once the motorway was officially designated 120kmph. I live less than a kilometre from the road/junction so can be on it up to 4 times a day.
The road is well capable of 100kmph IMO, it’s not that busy that you couldn’t stop and get a sufficient break in traffic at the junction in question. Like you said there are two lanes just beyond it. The stop sign is just regularly ignored. I have seen everything from cyclists to articulated lorries drive out on to the hatch markings as if it’s a slip road.
Sincere condolences to all involved today, truly tragic.
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