The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána have renewed their appeal for road users to take extra care, as provisional collision figures for 2020 show that there has been a 17 percent increase in the number of fatal crashes and a nine percent increase in road deaths compared to last year.
Up to 27 May 2020, 60 people have been killed in 56 fatal collisions, compared to 55 deaths in 48 fatal collisions up to 27 May 2019.
Of great concern for both the RSA and Gardai is the doubling in pedestrian deaths this year; 18 pedestrians have been killed this year compared to nine in 2019.
Speaking ahead of the June bank holiday weekend Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, said: “I am greatly alarmed at the rise in road deaths this year, particularly at the increase in pedestrian deaths. Road safety is a public health issue and the way we all behave on the road determines whether people live, suffer injury or die. I am appealing to all road users to please take a closer look at how you behave on the road and to take greater responsibility and practice good road safety habits. This means drivers being alert to danger and slowing down and pedestrians walking on the right-hand side of the road towards oncoming traffic if there are no footpaths.”
