Irish road deaths show biggest drop across EU

A FUNDAMENTAL culture shift in attitudes among Irish drivers is paying off, with the country showing the biggest drop in road deaths in the EU last year.

But for older people and for motorcyclists, Irish roads are still a lethal place, according to the annual European Transport Safety Council report.

Ireland and Spain topped the EU’s list of best improvers for the first time, with a 6% drop in road deaths last year, as fatalities increase in a number of other countries.

However, despite the fall, Ireland will not achieve the target of halving road deaths by 2010 compared with 2001. Instead, it will be at least 2020 before that goal can be achieved.

Michael Rowland, of the Road Safety Authority, said the drop in road deaths is thanks to the comprehensive set of measures in the 2007-2012 Road Safety Strategic Plan.

This includes random breath testing and tougher penalties for drink-driving offences, with drunk drivers disqualified for between one and six years.

The Garda Traffic Corps has been more than doubled from 500 to 1,200 since 2004 to ensure the new legislation is enforced, Mr Rowland said.

“The legislation has been underlined by hard-hitting mass media TV campaigns which have brought about a progressive cultural shift against drink-driving, realisation of its mortal impact, and support for more severe penalties,” he said.

Ireland’s motorcyclists are in greater danger of being killed on the roads than car drivers.

In 2006, 57% of drivers killed were on motorbikes — the highest percentage in the EU.

The figure was down slightly from the pervious year but in all there were 200 motorcyclists killed and 150 car drivers.

The study also showed there was a greater danger of people aged over 65 being killed on Irish roads.

For the years 2004 to 2006 there were 14.1 deaths per 100,000 people over the age of 65 compared with Lithuania’s 23, where pensioners are at greatest risk rate, or Malta’s 1.8 — the safest place for older people.

The study found for the first time since 2001, there was no reduction in the total number of road deaths in the EU.

Some 43,000 people died across the EU, and while this is 20% less than in 2001, it is well off the 37% needed to meet the target of halving road deaths by 2010.

The star achievers are France and Luxembourg, who may reach the target this year. Portugal is also on track to achieve the goal, probably next year.

Many other countries are falling well behind the target, however, with an increase in the number of road deaths last year compared to 2006 in Denmark (+34%), Czech Republic (+15%), Finland (+14%) and an increase of about 6% in Sweden and Poland. Only Ireland, Spain, Italy and Hungary showed a drop in road fatalities.

“It seems the push for safer roads has lost momentum in the majority of EU states,” said Graziella Jost, road safety performance index manager with the safety council.

“All countries must redouble their efforts,” she said.