4% increase in the number of people who died on Irish roads in 2019

45% increase in driver fatalities on Irish roads in 2019

According to the latest figures from An Garda Síochána the RSA (Road Safety Authority) a total of 148 people died on Irish roads in 2019, compared to 142 in 2018, which was a 4% increase.

In those figures, it has been realised that there was an increase of driver deaths of 45%.

2018 was the safest year on record year for road fatalities, so it is concerning that there was an increase again in 2019, albeit, just by an increase of 6 people who lost their lives.

Up to 1 pm on New Year’s Eve, 148 people were killed as a result of 137 fatal crashes, compared to 142 deaths in 135 fatal crashes the previous year.

Although there was a huge increase (45%) in driver deaths (25) compared to 2018, there was a decrease in pedestrian deaths, down 15 or 36%, and passenger deaths, down four or 20%.

Road User	2019	2018	No. Difference	% Difference
Drivers	81	56	+25	+45%
Passengers	16	20	-4	-20%
Motorcyclists	16	15	+1	+7%
Cyclists	8	9	-1	-11%
Pedestrians	27	42	-15	-36%
TOTAL	148	142	+6	+4%

While there was one more motorcyclist death recorded in 2019 compared to 2018 (16 versus 15), an overall analysis of ‘vulnerable road user’ casualties shows that there was a 23% reduction in such fatalities.

Road fatality statistics

Dublin had the highest rate of fatalities (19)
Cork had the second-highest rate of fatalities (16)
Over half of fatalities (56%) occurred on Thursday, Friday and Sunday
Sunday (32) was the most dangerous day of the week
One-third (34%) of fatalities which occurred on Sundays were between 7pm and 11pm while 28% were between midnight and 6am
Friday (26) was the second most dangerous day of the week
Eight in 10 (81%) of fatalities which occurred on Fridays were between 6am and 6pm.
Thursday (25) was the third most dangerous day of the week
68% of fatalities occurring on Thursdays were between 9am and 7pm

45% increase in driver fatalities on Irish roads in 2019

Assistant Garda Commissioner Dave Sheehan has announced that “two significant developments will happen” in 2020 to “ensure that high levels of visible, effective road safety enforcement is achieved”. There will be an additional 180 gardaí assigned to roads policing duties and secondly, a new mobility app on 4,000 devices used by frontline gardaí by the end of 2020. Sheehan went on to say:

“The new mobility app will revolutionise the way roads policing is carried out in this country. Both additional front line Garda resources and the greater enforcement capability of the mobility app will increase enforcement activity and help in reversing this year’s increase and achieving the road safety target,”.

The Chairperson of the RSA, Liz O’Donnell, stated that “after recording the safest year on our roads in 2018, it is deeply saddening that not only have we lost 148 lives on the road in 2019, but that it represents an increase in road deaths”.

“Rather than being disheartened it should spur us and our road safety partners into renewed effort,”

She noted that 2020 is also the final year of the government’s eight-year road safety strategy, adding that its primary target is to reduce deaths to 124 or fewer by the end of 2020.

“Deeper collaboration between all agencies responsible for road safety is already taking place to ensure everything that can be done is being done, not only to reverse the increase in deaths this year, but to achieve the strategy target.

“And it is a target that is very achievable, put simply it means saving two more lives a month, every month,”

The Minister for Transport, Shane Ross expressed his “deepest condolences” to the families of the victims who died on Irish roads in 2019, as well as “the many hundreds who have suffered serious injury”. Over 3,500 people have been seriously injured on Irish roads in the past four years.

“The only way to respond to these needless deaths and injuries on our roads is through action not words. While families and friends grieve the loss of their loved one, we must as a society all respond with deeds, to prevent it happening to others,”

He went on to say that individual road users “need to take greater responsibility for our actions when using the road”. “by slowing down, not driving while impaired through drink, drugs or fatigue, by not driving while using a phone, by wearing a seatbelt and always sharing the road more carefully with pedestrians and cyclists”.

All the staff at MyVehicle.ie offers their most sincere condolences to all the families who have lost a loved one most tragically on the roads.

RSA Official Website Statistics for deaths on Irish roads 2019

"In the period January - December 2019 there were 137 fatal collisions resulting in 148 fatalities on Irish roads. This represents two more collisions and 4% more deaths (+6) compared to provisional Garda data for the full year of 2018.

Of the 148 fatalities, there were 81 Drivers killed, 16 Passengers, 27 Pedestrians, 16 Motorcyclists and 8 Pedal Cyclists.

July and August (9 each) had the lowest number of fatalities in 2019. September (20) and December (16) were particularly dangerous.

The average number of deaths per month in 2019 (12 deaths per month) is the same as the monthly average in 2018 (12).

Sunday (32) was the most dangerous day in 2019, followed by Friday (26) and Thursday (25).

In 2019, Dublin (19), Cork (16) and Tipperary (13) had the highest number of road fatalities.

*Please note: All figures for 2018 and 2019 are provisional and subject to change. Updated 2 January 2020."

Author

Justin Kavanagh
Justin Kavanagh is a recognised leader in automotive intelligence and vehicle data supply to the entire motor industry. He has almost 20 years experience in building systems from the ground up. As the Managing Director of Vehicle Management System, he understands the need and importance of trustworthy and reliable vehicle history and advice to both the trade and the public.
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