Road death figures fall to record low of 161

Road death figures have dropped for the seventh year in a row to reach a record low.

Provisional 2012 road casualty figures published yesterday showed 161 people died on Irish roads in the last 12 months — 25 (13%) fewer than in 2011 and down 51 on the previous year.

Of the 161 killed, 78 were drivers, 28 were pedestrians, 27 were passengers, 19 were motorcyclists, eight were cyclists, and there was one listed as “other”.