Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

Road deaths down 57% in last six years

Cavan was the only county to record an increase in road fatalities from 2007 to 2012.

ROAD DEATHS IN Ireland fell 57 per cent between 2007 and 2012, according to new figures released by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

Both Co Laois and Co Leitrim recorded no road fatalities last year and had a 100 per cent reduction over the six year period. Cork had the highest number of road deaths in 2012 at 23 but showed a 32 per cent decrease over the period.

Cavan was the only country to record an increase, of 20 per cent, in road fatalities from 2007 to 2012 and Co Offaly showed no change.

The top 10 best performing counties were Laois, Leitrim, Kildare, Monaghan, Clare, Tipperary, Carlow, Wicklow, Dublin and Donegal who all achieved reductions of more than 70 per cent.

Last year 161 people died in road incidents, compared to 186 in 2011 and 2012 the year before, showing a steady decline.

Commenting on the report’s findings, Noel Brett, Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority said the reduction in road deaths in nearly every county in Ireland “shows just what can be achieved when communities come together and say, enough is enough, we don’t want any more people dying on our roads”.

“All it takes to make a difference is for one person to say, I’m going to change my behaviour on the roads so that I can keep myself and others safe when we’re out on the roads,” he added.

(If you have trouble viewing the chart, click here)

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
25 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute gordon thompson
    Favourite gordon thompson
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 12:20 PM

    This is great news,people are slowing down which is good news for us all.The headline states that cavan has had an increase,having driven up there a few times it’s no wonder…

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Steve Murphy
    Favourite Steve Murphy
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 1:33 PM

    It’s down to car safety as we have more crashes now

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute neuromancer
    Favourite neuromancer
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 2:08 PM

    It’s not just about slowing down.

    4
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Steve Murphy
    Favourite Steve Murphy
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 3:24 PM

    Cars can withstand massive amounts of impact compared to even 10yrs ago

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mike Clinton
    Favourite Mike Clinton
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 12:37 PM

    Great news and hopefully next years will be lower.
    Well done Garda,RSA and no small thanks to all the responsable drivers and other road users.

    55
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ted Carroll
    Favourite Ted Carroll
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 12:47 PM

    And significant improvements in the main road arteries! The northwest is still a troublesome spot with no Motorway connection but everywhere else has seen a huge improvement!

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David
    Favourite David
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 1:47 PM

    You’re welcome

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Donal Rafferty
    Favourite Donal Rafferty
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 12:44 PM

    Great news but the figures are not adjusted for the reduction of traffic on our roads from 2006 to 2012 due to less people working (especially in the construction industry which creates lots of traffic) and huge numbers of emigration. I would like to see those figures as they provide a more realistic outlook on road safety.

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bob Thebuildr
    Favourite Bob Thebuildr
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 12:53 PM

    Too true Donal. Also like to know the average yearly mileage covered by motorists. This must a factor also.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Higgins
    Favourite David Higgins
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 1:04 PM

    Our population still rose between 2006 and 2012. The true measure would be time spent driving vs road deaths but length of time spent on the road is very hard to quantify.

    The 2006 to 2008 figures were during the boom and they still show significant reductions in road deaths.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cornelius Collins
    Favourite Cornelius Collins
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 12:26 PM

    massive improvement. though Cant see how driving after a few scoops is goin to help reduce the numbers further.

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Maguire
    Favourite Tom Maguire
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 12:25 PM

    Talking about road safety…any word about an investigation into the penalty points scandal? Or is that a big hush hush because many pillars of Irish society were involved?

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute kmccaul
    Favourite kmccaul
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 12:46 PM

    Adults leading by example, along with better road networks, supported by law enforcement is the only way.
    The current young generation of drivers, I believe, probably bear this out. I am optimistic that the stats will improve, though I think distractions like the mobile phone, might be the challenge.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin O'Sullivan
    Favourite Kevin O'Sullivan
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 2:04 PM

    I think some of our TDs who have stuck the two fingers up to the drink driving laws in our country should be reminded of this.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rónán O'Suilleabháin
    Favourite Rónán O'Suilleabháin
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 3:26 PM

    Better roads = less road deaths. This is the major factor.

    Cork has the most km of roads in the country. Many of them are bad. Where is Cork on the table? Top. Who comes next? The second biggest county, Galway, is next for deaths. Galway has a lot of bad roads also.

    Road deaths are some function involving bad roads and population. Bad roads increase the odds of an accident, and population increases the number of road trips on the bad roads.

    Dublin has a lot of roads, but drivers are more likely to be speed limited in urban and suburban areas, so accidents don’t lead to as many deaths as they would on your average country R-road.

    Kildare has low road deaths considering it’s large population, but Kildare has 3 motorways, a good straight N road and a number of straight secondary routes.

    If you straighten and build better roads, people will use them, and they will be safer. If the N route through a county is no better than the R roads and local roads, people won’t go the few miles out of their way to join them.

    Yes, of course, speed and drink driving can be factors, and I don’t advocate these, but even the drunk/speeding driver is less likely to have an accident on good roads.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daniel Brady
    Favourite Daniel Brady
    Report
    Jan 31st 2013, 6:42 AM

    This explains why Cavan is topping the list…

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Margaret Gallagher
    Favourite Margaret Gallagher
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 1:41 PM

    That’s because everyone has emigrated ……..it’s like when they say unemployment has gone down Daaaaaaaaaaaaah last one out of this country switch off the lights ….

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nivag Yeoh
    Favourite Nivag Yeoh
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 2:05 PM

    No.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gert Ackermann
    Favourite Gert Ackermann
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 3:22 PM

    Neither the recession or emigration are significant factors. There were less people killed on Irish roads in 2012 than in ANY other year since records began in 1962. In fact, road deaths have been falling steadily since 1998.

    Improvements in the road network, vehicle safety, drive training and stricter drink-driving laws have all contributed. Be grateful for once and give credit where it is due…

    http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=138

    http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/new-record-for-fewest-road-deaths-set-in-2012-579590.html

    http://www.rsa.ie/RSA/Road-Safety/Our-Research/Deaths-injuries-on-Irish-roads/

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Roche
    Favourite Thomas Roche
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 1:50 PM

    Great news, Insurance costs have no excuse but to be reduced……or is that on another planet.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tomy Iona
    Favourite Tomy Iona
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 3:32 PM

    Nah – sure we’ve still to pay for Quinn.

    Quinn supporter red thumbs in……. 3…….. 2…….. 1……..

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dawn Keeballs
    Favourite Dawn Keeballs
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 1:20 PM

    Its horrible to say this but it doesn’t look like it will stay like that this year given the current figures. Heres hoping for a massive slow down in the current rise

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Barry
    Favourite Alan Barry
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 2:33 PM

    Road traffic levels are down massively since 2007 and this is the main reason why road deaths are down. It’s time the rsa got off their high horse and realise it nothing to do with them.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Phillips
    Favourite Alan Phillips
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 1:10 PM

    Well done to Laois & Leitrim, no road deaths, Nirvana

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon Blake
    Favourite Simon Blake
    Report
    Jan 30th 2013, 3:39 PM

    I blame the Quinn’s for the Cavan anomaly.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds