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.
To put things into perspective:-
In 2001 there were 49 people killed in the Dublin area. While this reduced somewhat in the following years, it was still unacceptably high. As a result, the Casualty Reduction Implementation Plan was created in 2010. Its aim is to use collision data in a targeted way to reduce fatalities and serious injuries.
Over the past number of years, two particular periods were identified as having a greater number of fatal and serious injury collisions in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. They are April/ May and October/ November.
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, 19 fatalities in 2010 and 11 fatalities in 2011.
Although fatalities have reduced significantly, serious injury collisions still remain a concern.
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 to date* in 2012 in the Dublin region.
It found a total of 51 collisions which resulted in 8 fatalities and 43 cases of serious injury, total 51 KSI (killed/ serious injury).
*(28th August 2012)
The report identified in particular:
• 76% (38 out of 51) of those killed or seriously injured were vulnerable road users, Pedestrians, Pedal Cyclists and Motorcyclists
• 79% (40 out of 51) of all incidents occurred in 50kph zones alone.
• 75% (38 out of 51) of collisions occur on dry roads.
• The high risk time periods have been identified as between 4pm and 6pm Monday to Friday for mainly vulnerable road users.
• Friday night into Saturday morning, and Saturday night into Sunday morning 12am-4am for mainly vehicle users, in particular involving single vehicle collisions, often involving speed/ alcohol.
• A significant proportion of motorcycle/ pillion passengers injured involved young males often wearing no helmet.
• The Garda Districts where high levels of fatal and serious injury crashes occurred were – Clondalkin, Tallaght, Coolock, Blanchardstown, Ballymun, Store Street, Lucan, Dun Laoghaire and Raheny.
This will be an intelligence led initiative utilising the following resources:
? A combination of Traffic Corps and all Divisional and District Policing Resources at key times and locations.
? Garda Pedal Cycle Units targeting Vulnerable Road User behaviours including Red Light Running, Safety Equipment, etc.
Garda Assistant Commissioner Gerard Phillips said today:-
"Dublin now has the safest roads of all EU Capital cities. That is a very significant honour to hold, and is achieved with the support and help of all road users. However, we in An Gárda Siochána can always do more. Dublin’s vulnerable road users are still over represented in casualties every year. 6 of the 11 fatalities last year alone were pedestrians. To date we have had 8 fatalities, compared to 6 this time last year. Our Casualty Reduction Implementation Plan in conjunction with all our stakeholder partners, is a combination of high visibility enforcement and education to raise awareness and reduce the number of casualties on Dublin’s roads. We are aiming this at every road user to help us achieve our goal, including Pedestrians, Younger/Inexperienced drivers, Cyclists and Motorcyclists.
Chief Superintendent Reid continued:-"We will target speeding drivers (particularly in 50 kph zones), drink drivers, dangerous drivers, errant cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians. There will be a major media campaign, supported by the NRA and DCC VMS displays including Bus stop message boards. There will be road safety programmes in both primary and secondary schools. Dublin now has the safest roads in Europe. We ask all road users to work with us to keep it that way”
The four local authorities and key stakeholders such as the NTA, RSA, NRA, Dublin Bus and LUAS are supporting this operation. Initiatives will be run and highlighted throughout the duration of the campaign.
It is also now further supported by the Taxi Representatives, Coach Tourism and Transport Council, Road Haulage Association, Dualway Coaches and Bus Eireann.
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%).
