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22/07/2009
Road Deaths Fall As Recession Bites
Despite continuing road tragedies - with a young woman dead overnight from injuries received in an earlier accident - road deaths in Ireland are falling.
They dropped sharply last year according to new figures out today - partly because people are using their cars less during the economic downturn.
Fatalities dropped 17.5% on Irish roads in 2008 - 2,645 recorded deaths last year compared with 3,059 in 2007.
The picture is similar elsewhere in Europe and across the world - road deaths down 13.5% in the UK, 13.6% in Belgium, 9.7% in America, and 8.5% in Australia.
The Paris-based International Transport Forum (ITF) said the figures reflect improved road safety measures and enforcement, but also lower traffic volumes.
"Certainly the economic downturn has had a significant short-term impact on traffic volumes in some countries, but the relative importance of traffic volume and (road safety) policy in reducing fatalities can not yet be disentangled with certainty," noted the report.
However, when taking into account that motorists travelled fewer kilometres, the percentage cut in road deaths last year in the Republic of Ireland was still 17%, according to the ITF figures.
That compares favourably with the case in America, where there was a much bigger reduction in estimated 'vehicle-kilometres' travelled, but the the net fall in road deaths is put only at 6%.
The ITF said that firm conclusions cannot yet be drawn from the 2008 figures on the effectiveness of recent road safety advances and tougher policing.
Instead, longer-term trends are more relevant to policy analysis, and these show smaller and variable falls in road death rates over the three decades up to 2000.
In 1970-80, the road deaths rate rose by 0.4% in Ireland, then fell by 1.6% (1980-90), 1.4% (1990-2000), and 4.8% (2000-2008).
See: Another Death Blights Roads
(BMcC/JM)
They dropped sharply last year according to new figures out today - partly because people are using their cars less during the economic downturn.
Fatalities dropped 17.5% on Irish roads in 2008 - 2,645 recorded deaths last year compared with 3,059 in 2007.
The picture is similar elsewhere in Europe and across the world - road deaths down 13.5% in the UK, 13.6% in Belgium, 9.7% in America, and 8.5% in Australia.
The Paris-based International Transport Forum (ITF) said the figures reflect improved road safety measures and enforcement, but also lower traffic volumes.
"Certainly the economic downturn has had a significant short-term impact on traffic volumes in some countries, but the relative importance of traffic volume and (road safety) policy in reducing fatalities can not yet be disentangled with certainty," noted the report.
However, when taking into account that motorists travelled fewer kilometres, the percentage cut in road deaths last year in the Republic of Ireland was still 17%, according to the ITF figures.
That compares favourably with the case in America, where there was a much bigger reduction in estimated 'vehicle-kilometres' travelled, but the the net fall in road deaths is put only at 6%.
The ITF said that firm conclusions cannot yet be drawn from the 2008 figures on the effectiveness of recent road safety advances and tougher policing.
Instead, longer-term trends are more relevant to policy analysis, and these show smaller and variable falls in road death rates over the three decades up to 2000.
In 1970-80, the road deaths rate rose by 0.4% in Ireland, then fell by 1.6% (1980-90), 1.4% (1990-2000), and 4.8% (2000-2008).
See: Another Death Blights Roads
(BMcC/JM)
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30 January 2013
57% Fall In Road Deaths In 5-Year Period
2007 and 2011 saw a drop of 57% in the number of people killed on Irish roads, according to a report by the Road Safety Authority. The report also shows that two counties, Laois and Leitrim, achieved a 100% reduction in road deaths, recording no fatalities last year. Only one county, Cavan, recorded an increase in fatalities over the period.
57% Fall In Road Deaths In 5-Year Period
2007 and 2011 saw a drop of 57% in the number of people killed on Irish roads, according to a report by the Road Safety Authority. The report also shows that two counties, Laois and Leitrim, achieved a 100% reduction in road deaths, recording no fatalities last year. Only one county, Cavan, recorded an increase in fatalities over the period.
04 November 2013
Irish Road Deaths Increase
This year has seen a rise in the amount of people dying on Irish roads, with the number as of 12 September totalling 132 people; an increase of 13 on the same period last year. 66 drivers lost their lives on our roads, the largest of any road user category. 14 of those drivers were between the ages of 21-25, the highest of any driver age group.
Irish Road Deaths Increase
This year has seen a rise in the amount of people dying on Irish roads, with the number as of 12 September totalling 132 people; an increase of 13 on the same period last year. 66 drivers lost their lives on our roads, the largest of any road user category. 14 of those drivers were between the ages of 21-25, the highest of any driver age group.
31 October 2008
Birth Rate Up In First 3 Months Of 2008
There was almost a 10% jump in the number of babies born in Ireland during the first three months of this year, compared to 2007. Figures released by the Central Statistics Office report 19,000 births during January, February and March.
Birth Rate Up In First 3 Months Of 2008
There was almost a 10% jump in the number of babies born in Ireland during the first three months of this year, compared to 2007. Figures released by the Central Statistics Office report 19,000 births during January, February and March.
28 March 2013
Minister Launches Road Safety Strategy
Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar has launched the Government's fourth Road Safety Strategy today at the Road Transport Safety Conference on Serious Injuries. The Strategy – 'Closing the Gap' - will run until 2020 and aims to make Ireland one of the safest countries in terms of road deaths in the EU.
Minister Launches Road Safety Strategy
Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar has launched the Government's fourth Road Safety Strategy today at the Road Transport Safety Conference on Serious Injuries. The Strategy – 'Closing the Gap' - will run until 2020 and aims to make Ireland one of the safest countries in terms of road deaths in the EU.
05 January 2010
Byrne Commended Over Road Figures
The Road Safety Chief Gay Byrne has been commended after new government statistic showing a reduction in road deaths. The Labour Party's Spokesperson on Transport, Tommy Broughan, today commended the work by the Road Safety Authority, which is currently led by former Late Late Show host Gay Byrne.
Byrne Commended Over Road Figures
The Road Safety Chief Gay Byrne has been commended after new government statistic showing a reduction in road deaths. The Labour Party's Spokesperson on Transport, Tommy Broughan, today commended the work by the Road Safety Authority, which is currently led by former Late Late Show host Gay Byrne.
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Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
