A Casualty Reduction Implementation Campaign began in the Dublin Metropolitan Region on Sunday 1st April 2012, and will run for 8 weeks. Its aim is to reduce the number of road users killed and seriously injured, with a focus on our most vulnerable road users – pedestrians, pedal cyclists and motorcyclists.
In 2002 there were 49 people killed in the Dublin area. Whilst this reduced somewhat in the following years, it was still unacceptably high.
The months of April/May and October/November have been identified as periods where there are increased numbers of serious collisions.
Since the Casualty Reduction initiatives began in October/November 2010, fatalities in the Dublin Metropolitan Region have reduced significantly. There were 32 fatalities in 2009, 20 fatalities in 2010 and 11 fatalities in 2011.
There will be a HGV Pedestrian/ Cyclist Safety awareness initiative performed on O’ Connell Street, Dublin 1 between 4pm and 6pm on Thursday the 19th April. Pedestrians and cyclists will be given a chance to get a view from the cab of a truck and of what the driver can, and more importantly, cannot see. As well as Road Safety advice, there will be a supply of Hi-Viz safety equipment available. This is the second in a series of 6 such events during this campaign and will cover each Garda/ Local Authority area. A photo opportunity will take place between 4.00 and 4.15pm.
Inspector Barry Moore of the Dublin Metropolitan Region said today:-
"Our Casualty Reduction Implementation Plan is a combination of Enforcement and Education to reduce the number casualties on Dublin’s roads. We have seen significant success by previous campaigns and we intend on further reducing the number of casualties. We must thank the public for their assistance to date. Dublin has become the safest road network of all EU capital cities. In saying that, we can always do more. Six of the eleven fatalities last year were pedestrians. We are aiming this at every road user to help us achieve our goal, including Pedestrians, Younger/ Inexperienced drivers, Cyclists and Motorcyclists. Particular focus will be around speeding, especially in 50 and 30 kph zones. Speed checkpoints, both static and mobile, along with Go-Safe safety cameras will be deployed to target offenders”
Inspector Moore continued:- "We are targeting vulnerable road users through the use of safety messages on Dublin City Council and National Roads Authority VMS signs, the BikeSafe motorcycle initiative, and 6 HGV Pedestrian/ Cyclist safety awareness initiatives*. The "It won’t happen to me” road safety programme is also available at senior secondary school level.
The four local authorities, Dublin Bus, LUAS and the RSA are supporting this operation. Making the Roads safer for ALL Road Users is our number one priority”
There have been 2 fatalities in the Dublin Region so far this year, 1 pedestrian and 1 cyclist. There were 3 fatalities this time last year.
Note to editors:
During the periods which were targeted (April/May & Oct/Nov) by Casualty Reduction, the following fatalities occurred:-
April May 2009---------- 11
April May 2010-----------7
April May 2011-----------1
October/November 2009---------10
October/November 2010----------6
October/November 2011----------3
Although fatalities have reduced significantly, serious injuries have not decreased at the same rate.
As a result, the Garda Analysis Service, in conjunction with input from the Forensic Collision Unit and each Garda Division, was again commissioned to carry out a review of all fatal and serious injury collisions during 2011 in the Dublin region. A total of 80 people were killed or seriously injured in 72 incidents.
The report identified in particular:
• 74% of those killed or seriously injured were vulnerable road users, Pedestrians, Pedal Cyclists and Motorcyclists
• 58% of all incidents occurred in 50kph alone.
• 82% of pedestrian collisions occurred in 30 or 50kph zones, peaking between 7-9pm daily and Saturday night/ Sunday morning 12am-5am.
• Motorcyclists and pillion passengers accounted for 20% of the serious injury collisions, 53% of those at the weekend.
• The Garda Districts where high levels of fatal and serious injury crashes occurred were – Tallaght, Store Street, Sundrive Road, Blanchardstown, Clondalkin, Coolock and along the N11 in Donnybrook.
• The times of day when an increased proportion of fatal and serious injury crashes occurred were in particular:
- 11am-2pm Monday to Friday (All road users)
- 7pm-10pm Everyday evening (Pedestrians and m/cyclists)
- 12pm-4am Friday noon into Saturday morning,
- 12am-4am Saturday night into Sunday morning. (Vehicle occupants/ Pedestrians)
• Almost half of fatal and serious injury collisions occurred over the weekend.
• Alcohol, speed and aggressive driver behaviour accounted for almost 25% of all collisions.
• Of the 21 fatal or serious injury collisions involving driver or passenger, 75% involved a single vehicle crash. The majority involved being males and females 17-20 years.
The following resources will be utilised;
A combination of Traffic Corps and Divisional and District Policing Resources.
40 Gardaí will be deployed during peak hours.
Day time operations – 30 Gardaí on special enforcement operations.
Night time operations – 40 Gardaí on special enforcement operations.
Garda Pedal Cycle Units targeting Vulnerable Road User behaviours including Red Light Running, Safety Equipment, etc.
Road Safety Message
The media has a major part in highlighting the role that motorist and vulnerable road users play in Road Safety.
- Motorist- watch out for vulnerable road users in 50kph and 30kph zones
- Pedestrians, pedal cyclists and motorcyclists- increase your visibility watch out- be seen
- Road use requires concentration by all.
The risk of cyclists and pedestrians being killed when struck by a vehicle travelling at the following speeds is as follows:-
• 60kph- 85% chance of bring killed
• 50kph- 45% chance of being killed
• 30kph- 5% chance of being killed
Pedestrians alone are the single most vulnerable road user group in Dublin over the last 10 years, accounting for 1 in 3 fatalities (35%).