RSA concerned about rising road deaths as number of fatalities reaches 77

The incident occurred on the N1 Carrickarnan, Drumad, Dundalk, Co Louth. Picture: Google maps.

The RSA has expressed deep concern about the number of road deaths so far this year.

Over the bank holiday weekend, eight people died on Irish roads bringing the total number of fatalities this year to 77.

“The weekends are showing up as a dangerous time to be out on the road, half of the fatalities are at the weekend,” Liz O’Donnell, chair of the RSA, has said.

“We’re really concerned about the rising trend this year

“The last few years we’ve had the lowest and safest record for road safety in Ireland and we have made great strides in bringing down road fatalities over the last 10 years.

“We’re concerned this year there’s already 77 deaths and that’s way up on last year in the same period," she told Newstalk Breakfast.

In particular, the RSA has expressed massive concern about the number of motorcyclist deaths and it is their safety that the RSA is especially concerned about.

“We’re particularly worried about motorcyclists - 17 this year, 21 last year. That’s a very high rate of death by people using motorbikes and we’re calling for motorists in particular to slow down and be mindful of vulnerable road users.

“Thankfully, pedal cycle fatalities are down and I think that’s due to the fact that we have made moves in terms of infrastructure to make cycling safer for people and for children in particular.”

Be more cautious

The RSA has urged people to be mindful of the basic rules of the road, advising the public to stick to the speed limit and never drive under the influence.

“It’s back to the basics. The things we thought we had dealt with and people had absorbed as the way to behave on the roads, we have to completely repeat the messaging and get it absorbed by the public again.

“Drinking driving is absolutely criminal behaviour and if you’re speeding and drunk you are out of control on the road. The detections for drink driving, unfortunately, are up by a quarter already this year.” 

The RSA has met with the Garda Commissioner and has urged a more visible Garda presence on the roads.

Pedestrian struck by truck

A man has been killed after being struck by an articulated truck.

The incident occurred at around 12.30am on Tuesday morning on the N1 Carrickarnan, Drumad, Dundalk, Co Louth.

The male pedestrian, aged 21, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the lorry, a man in his 30s, did not require medical treatment. The body of the deceased has since been removed from the scene and the Coroner has been notified.

The road is currently closed and Forensic Collision Investigators are conducting a technical examination of the scene. Local diversions are in place.

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage and were travelling on the N1 at Carrickarnan, Drumad between midnight and 12.30am are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Dundalk Garda Station on [phone], the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.