Motorcyclist deaths 14% above EU rates

IRISH roads have emerged as among some of the most dangerous in Europe for motorcyclists, with fatality rates 14% above the EU average.

A report by the European Transport Safety Council shows motorcyclists in Ireland are about 25 times more likely to be killed in an accident than a car driver. It also shows little improvement has been made in reducing the risk for Irish motorcyclists over the past decade.

The council’s report shows that 13 out of 19 countries have had better success in improving safety levels for motorcyclists between 1997 and 2006. Ireland has only achieved a 2% reduction in the risk during that period.

Overall, Ireland was ranked 11th out of 21 European states and Israel in terms of safety for motorcyclists.

With about 103 motorcyclist fatalities for every billion kilometres driven, Ireland is placed by the council in a group of countries whose road safety performance for motorcyclists is criticised due to the high fatality rates. The EU average is 86 deaths per billion km.

The figures show a disproportionately high number of motorcyclists are killed in traffic accidents. They constitute 16% of all road deaths, yet account for 2% of all traffic kilometres.

In Ireland, motorcyclists account for about 14% of all road fatalities but 1.5% of licensed vehicles.

Although the report noted road fatalities among motorcyclists has fallen in Ireland by about 2% between 1997 and 2006, figures by the Road Safety Authority show the number has begun to increase again.

Thirty-nine motorcyclists were killed in 2000 compared with 56 in 2005 — the latest year for which official figures are available. In contrast, the number of motorcyclists injured in road accidents has fallen by about 50% over the same period, falling from 1,140 in 2000 to 535 in 2005.

The report was released against a background that about 6,200 motorcyclists and moped riders were killed in road crashes within EU countries last year.

A council spokesperson expressed concern about the “stagnating safety” for motorcycle and moped riders across Europe.

Norway, Switzerland, Denmark and Finland are the least dangerous places in Europe to ride motorcycles with average fatalities of 30-45 per billion kilometres. Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Latvia have the worst road death rate with fatality levels over six times that of the best performing countries.

The Road Safety Authority has proposed all learner motorcyclists will have to undergo a scheme of compulsory training.

Such a scheme is expected to be in place by the end of 2008.