Road deaths down in 2021

[BrianD3]

121 killed on our roads so far this year, this will likely be a record low by some distance. Obviously no consolation for those who were killed and for their families and friends.

From an overall perspective though, good news. I have no doubt that the media and RSA will try to get as much negativity as possible out of it e.g. if there has been an increase in deaths among a particular group of road users they'll focus on that instead of the overall figure.

For comparison, there were 640 killed in 1972, 472 in 1997 and likely <130 in 2021. Jumbo jets worth of lives not lost each year. A much bigger decrease in the last ~25 years than in the 25 before that even with the 1972-1997 period coinciding with seatbelt wearing becoming compulsory.

[BrianD3]

Figure for last year is being reported in the media as 130. But that is to 9am on the 31st (source: Garda website) and there were 3 more people killed near Kells yesterday evening which is also being reported in the media.

Either way, it's the lowest figure since 1945.

December was a very bad month.

The Kells collision happened on the N52/M3 slip road, sounds like it could be a case of someone driving the wrong way on a motorway. With road deaths having dropped, very avoidable motorway deaths might be making up a bigger proportion of fatalities. 4 people killed in a wrong way collision on the M6 earlier in the year. There have also been pedestrians killed on motorways this year including someone who was struck after he exited his vehicle to assist another road user.

[BrianD3]

For clarity, the Kells collision happened on a two way stretch of the N52 near the M3. The media reports I read this morning said slip road which would imply a motorway on or off ramp.

[490808]

Maybe that its a slow news week but I seem to remember a report of fatal accidents almost every day for at least a week.

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/man ... 36513.html

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/dar ... 36474.html

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/thr ... 36381.html

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/com ... 36139.html

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/two ... 35838.html

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/cyc ... 34392.html

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/man ... 34027.html

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/you ... 34012.html

[AmEireCan]

Ireland is the only country I'm aware of where road deaths make the national news. Bizarre.

[AmEireCan]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co ... 102851.amp

You've linked to the local news for Wiltshite in England. Did you have a point to make?