Garda concern over increase in road deaths this year
Ahead of St Patrick’s weekend gardaí said they were particularly concerned about the continuing rise in road fatalities among the 16 to 30 years age group.
According to the most recently compiled figures, 45 people have died on the roads so far this year, 12 more than at the same stage in 2010.
Garda Assistant Commissioner John Twomey said there were areas of particular concern within those numbers, especially the increases in the number of pedestrians and motorcyclists being killed, and their age profiles.
Eleven pedestrians have died so far this year, up 3.5%, and seven of those died in rural areas. The youngest victim was 16, while the youngest victim among motorcyclist deaths was aged 29.
Gardaí said this indicated that it was not younger people who were being killed, and that the six motorcyclists who died were killed between 1pm and 5pm, and four of the deaths took place on a Sunday.
All the motorcycle accidents involved another vehicle and Asst Commissioner Twomey said the St Patrick’s weekend marked the start of the motorbike season, and appealed to user of bikes to wear high-visibility vests and use their headlights during the day.
Gardaí also revealed that there have been more than 11,000 checkpoints so far this year, resulting in 88,240 breath tests being taken.
Of those, 18,045 people were arrested over drink- driving, although gardaí pointed out that the drink- driving rate is falling. For every 588 people tested, one will have been drinking and driving. Just one year ago the comparable figure was one in 416 people tested, and it stood at one in 200 people tested back in 2006.
Gardaí said more people were being tested and fewer arrested for the offence.
However, 47,254 speeding notices have been issued to motorists already this year, an increase of 139% compared to the same period last year, equating to 27,476 people.
Gardaí said some drivers were still speeding, despite appeals to slow down, and are putting their and other motorists’ lives at risk.
Garda statistics for the year so far also indicate that more than 2,000 people have been prosecuted for not wearing a seatbelt and more than 5,500 people have been penalised for using a mobile phone while driving.
Another 1,200 notices have been issued to the drivers of heavy goods vehicles for offences under road traffic legislation, an increase of 32% on the same figure at this stage last year.
- 45 deaths this year — up 12 from 2010.
- 18,045 drink driving offences.
- 47,254 speeding notices issued.
