Road fatalities rise faster than anywhere else in western Europe

ROAD fatalities in Ireland are rising at a faster rate than anywhere else in western Europe at a time when many other EU states are recording a decline in road traffic deaths.

EU statistics show Ireland has bucked a European-wide trend by having the highest increase in road fatalities in 2004.

Road deaths are up by 12% over the first nine months of 2004 with 282 people killed in accidents compared to just 251 over the same period last year. There is an overall decline of almost 10% in road fatalities across western Europe as well as a 5.5% fall in accidents resulting in injury.

Numbers killed in road accidents in many other EU states have fallen dramatically so far this year with the Netherlands and Portugal both recording a 19% decrease in fatalities. Other significant reductions have occurred in Germany (13%), Denmark (12%) and France (9%).

Finland and Luxembourg are the only other countries in a survey of 12 EU states along with Ireland to show a rising number of people killed in road accidents.

Chairman of the National Safety Council Eddie Shaw said the increase in road fatalities this year was “a cause of great regret, but not alarm.”

He said the increase was largely explained by the fact that 2003 had seen the lowest level of road fatalities since 1961 with 336 deaths.

He said monthly average of deaths on Irish roads last year was 28 compared to 40 in the mid-1990s. He added the reduction in enforcement of traffic legislation in the first half of 2004 was largely caused by Ireland hosting the EU Presidency.