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 redouble their efforts and to use the roads as safely as they possibly can.

Of the 34 people who have lost their lives in fatal road traffic collisions, 25 were drivers or passengers. 

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 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 belts 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 said: “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 safety belts 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 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. 

While the vast majority are complaint and should be commended, many are not. 

This noncompliance 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.

Provisional enforcement data

                                Jan 18      Jan 19 

Intoxicated driving    597          695 

Safety Belts              525          820 

Speeding                  8,236      13,048 

Mobile phones         1,888      2,235

The total number of safety belts detections for 2018 was 11,541, a 5% increase on the previous year.