Fatalities increase on County Monaghan’s roads
Since 2007, there has been a 70% reduction in the number of road fatalities in Cavan according to a report published by the Road Safety Authority (RSA); but road deaths have increased in Monaghan in the same period.
The report assessed the number of road deaths in each county in the Republic of Ireland from 2007 to 2013, and Cavan was in the top five best performing counties in terms of the reduction in road deaths·
2013 saw the first year-on-year increase in the number of fatalities since 2005.
Despite the improvement there were still numerous deaths on the county’s road during that eight year period. Since 2007, 25 car users, seven motorcyclists, one cyclist, seven goods vehicle users and 10 pedestrians have been killed on roads in County Cavan. Two additional fatalities were recorded where the road-user category was unknown.
“The reduction in the number of road deaths in Cavan shows just what can be achieved when communities come together,” emphasised Moyagh Murdock, chief executive of the Road Safety Authority. “Change happens at local level, and in every community, town and county in Ireland, we must all collectively accept greater responsibility for our own safety by becoming custodians and champions for safety on the road. We can all make a huge difference when we make road safety a priority and work together to effect real change. All it takes to make a difference is for one person to say, ‘I’m going to change my behaviour on the roads so that I can keep myself and others safe when we’re sharing the road together’.”
Cavan also had one of the lowest road death tolls last year, with three fatalities in the county, compared with 10 fatalities in 2007.
Reduction
Nationally, in the period 2007 to 2013, there was a 44% reduction in road fatalities. Clare and Louth recorded the biggest decrease in road deaths. Kildare and Monaghan are the only counties where fatalities increased between 2007 and 2013. Reductions in deaths were observed in all user categories, with the highest reduction in pedal cycle (67%), goods vehicle (66%) and pedestrian (62%) casualties.
Last year saw the first year-on-year increase in the number of road deaths in Ireland for the first time since 2005 when 190 people lost their lives compared to 162 in 2012, representing a 17% rise. This increase nationally was driven by increases in the numbers of deaths in Tipperary (up from 4 to 12), Kildare (up from 1-15), Kerry (up from 7 to 13) and Dublin (up from 12 to 19).
Highest
The highest number of car user deaths last year was in Cork (14), followed by Donegal, Kerry and Kildare where nine car users lost their lives. The highest number of pedestrian fatalities occurred in Dublin (7), Galway (4) and Mayo (3). Finally, the highest motorcyclist fatalities were in counties Kildare, Meath (4 in each county), Dublin and Wicklow (3 in each county).
Ireland’s Fourth Road Safety Strategy 2013 to 2020 sets out to reduce road deaths to 124 or fewer per annum by the end of 2020.
“I would urge everyone to keep road safety top of mind every time you use the road – as a motorist, motorcyclist, cyclist, pedestrian, or passenger,” said Ms Murdock. “I would also like to pay tribute to An Garda Síochána, emergency services personnel and Local Authorities for their work in reducing the death toll on our roads. If we all redouble our efforts in 2014, there is no reason why we can’t make Ireland’s roads the safest in the world.”