Significant increase in road deaths in 2019

• 34 people have died on Irish roads this year, up 9 on last year
• Drivers and passengers account for nearly three quarters of all road fatalities
• 1 in 3 of the 82 vehicular fatalities in 2018 had no safety belt on
• Appeal to all road users to think and be safe every journey

Road deaths have increased by nearly 30% in 2019. This upward trend must be addressed immediately and An Garda Síochána appeal to every road user to re-double their efforts and to use the road as safely as they possibly can. Of the 34 people who have lost their lives in fatal road traffic collisions, 25 have either been a driver or passenger.

Chief Superintendent Paul Cleary, Garda National Roads Policing Bureau, said today:

"This increase in road deaths is significant and affects all parts of the country. Every fatality has a devastating impact on family, friends and their local community. I call on every road user to play their part to make the roads safer. Think road safety every journey, and do everything you can to make the roads safer for all road users.”

Every fatal road traffic collision is fully investigated by highly trained Forensic Collision Investigators as to causation. Analysis from 2018 reveals that nearly 1 in 3 of vehicular fatalities had no safety belt on at the time of the collision. Early investigations indicate this trend is continuing into 2019. Other factors such as excessive or inappropriate speed (weather or road conditions) and intoxicated driving are also significant factors in fatal road traffic collisions".

Chief Superintendent Cleary continued:

"Initial information from fatal collisions in 2019 reveal that excessive or inappropriate speeding, intoxicated driving and lack of safety belts appear time and time again. In 2018, up to 1 in 3 of the people who died were not wearing a safety belt at the time of the collision. Safety belts are proven life savers and must be worn every journey, every time.”

There has been an increase in detections in some very important categories such as intoxicated driving, non-use of safety belts and mobile phone use. An Garda Síochána, the RSA and all partner stakeholders work hard to make the roads safe, however we need and appeal today for the support and help of all road users. Whilst the vast majority are complaint and should be commended, many are not. This non-compliance creates risk on the road to all road users. Mistakes on the road cause collisions, preventing mistakes prevents collisions. Please note this significant increase in road deaths and think and be safe every journey.
  

        
The total number of safety belts detections for 2018 were 11,541, a 5% increase on the previous year.
Further enforcement data is on the Garda website/ Roads Policing.