2012 Drop in deaths lowest on record
Provisional road casualty figures for 2012 published today, Tuesday 1st January 2013 show that a total of 161people tragically lost their lives on Irish roads in 2012. This is 25 fewer fatalities compared to 186 deaths last year and 51 fewer deaths compared to 2010 when 212 people lost their lives on the roads.
Road deaths have now fallen every year since 2006. Furthermore it is also the fifth year in a row that a new record low for fatalities in this country has been achieved.
The third Road Safety Strategy 2007 to 2012, which will be replaced in early 2013 with a new eight year strategy, set a target of reducing road deaths to no more than 252 deaths per annum by the end of 2012. Not only was this target achieved ahead of schedule in 2009, it was significantly surpassed. Since the beginning of 2007 there has been a 56% decrease in road deaths. While the total number of serious injuries sustained in crashes in 2012 is not yet available, there has been a 51% reduction in these injuries up to the end of 2011.
Minister for Transport Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar, said, “For the seventh year in a row the number of people killed on the roads has dropped. In 2012 the loss of life was the lowest ever recorded. The ongoing effort to reduce the tragedy of road deaths is working. Further key road safety measures will be implemented this year, and the new Road Safety strategy will be published. But this change really comes down to the efforts of every single road user. We can never forget those who lost their lives on the roads in 2012, but next year we can take it a step further. I urge everyone to change one thing about their behaviour on the roads next year. It will make a difference.”
Commenting on the release of the provisional figures Mr. Gay Byrne, Chairman, Road Safety Authority said “At the end of 2006 the year before the third Road Safety Strategy was launched, we were losing a life on the road every single day. Six years later and this has dropped to three lives lost every week. So as a result of your actions, the road using public, you are preventing four deaths every week now compared to 2006. While one death is one too many, this is an extraordinary achievement and something of which you should all be very proud. The challenge now is to build on this success. We have three more lives a week to save.”
“We know we can do better because countries like Sweden, the UK and the Netherlands have done it. The task begins with the development and publication of the new Road Safety Strategy, which will cover the period 2013 to 2020. Key elements of this new strategy will focus on serious injury reduction, tackling repeat road traffic offenders and developing more forgiving roads. While government agencies will work tirelessly to implement this new strategy, ultimately if we want safer roads only you can get us there.”
RSA Chief Executive, Mr. Noel Brett, paid tribute to the work of the Gardai and Emergency Services, “It is important, as we come to the end of another year, that we acknowledge and thank those on the front line in road safety. The Gardai, Ambulance and Paramedic crews, Fire Brigade personnel, Nurses, Doctors and Carers who are responsible for ensuring we stay safe on the roads and for caring for those who have been affected by road trauma”.
“2013 will be another challenging year, but one which the Board and staff of the RSA are looking forward to as it will see the launch of a new Road Safety Strategy, the introduction of a new plastic card driving licence, the transformation of the Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Testing system, and Ireland’s presidency of the European Union, which will include the hosting of a major EU conference on road safety in March 2013.”
Commissioner of An Garda Síochána Mr Martin Callinan said today: “We wish to thank all road users who have made a conscious and positive change to both their attitudes and behaviour on our roads. This change has resulted in another record low in terms of road safety in Ireland. This is evident in particular in our drink driving arrests which are down for the fifth year in a row, whilst there have been more Garda Mandatory Alcohol Checkpoints in 2012, compared to 2011. In 2007 the rate of detection was approximately 1 in 25, now it’s approximately 1 in 50. This clearly shows increased compliance by responsible members of the public.”
Commissioner Callinan continued: “Although we have saved 25 lives compared to 2011, we can all do more to reduce fatalities and serious injuries for 2013 and beyond. In 2012 we identified Sunday as being the most dangerous day of the week on our roads, and in particular between 4pm and 6pm. To some Sunday is a day of leisure but this fact serves as a reminder to all that collisions can happen to anyone at any time. We all must remember that complacency can cost lives.”
An Garda Síochána’s Strategy Statement 2013-2015 will continue to incorporate road safety as one of it’s key objectives to ensure safety for all on our roads.
Road deaths dropped by approximately 13% in 2012 compared to 2011. A provisional breakdown of the casualty figures shows;
Table 1 Road Deaths by Road User Category 2012 Compared to 2011
Road User
No. Fatalities 2012
%
No. Fatalities 2011
%
% change 2012 over 2011
Pedestrian
28
17%
47
25%
-40%
Driver
78
48%
79
42%
-1%
Passenger
27
17%
33
18%
-18%
Motorcyclist
19
12%
18
10%
6%
Cyclist
8
5%
9
5%
-11%
Other
1
1%
-
-
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Total
161
100%
186
100%
-13%
Some of the key provisional statistics for 2012 include;
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§ 30% of road deaths were under 25 years of age.
§ 41% of road deaths occurred on Saturday and Sunday.
§ The hours between 4pm and 6pm were the most dangerous, with 31 deaths (19%)
§ The average monthly fatality rate in 2012 was 13 compared to 16 in 2011 and 18 in 2010.
§ The safest month of the year was November when 8 deaths occurred.
§ 108 or 67% of those killed on the roads were male.
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Ends
For further information, please contact:
The Communications Office, Road Safety Authority – 096 25008
Or
Brian Farrell, Communications Manager, 086 - 3881009
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Table 1. Road Deaths by Road users type, 2006-2012
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Road user
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Pedestrians
73
81
49
40
44
47
28
Pedal Cyclists
9
15
13
7
5
9
8
Motor Cyclists
29
33
29
25
17
18
19
Car Users
226
171
160
146
130
95
95
PSV Users
3
1
0
1
1
0
1
Goods Vehicle
18
32
20
17
10
17
9
Other or Unknown
7
5
8
2
5
0
1
TOTAL
365
338
279
238
212
186
161
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Figures in red correspond to the period covering the third Government Road Strategy 2007 to 2012.The figures in black (2006) represent the base year against which third road safety strategy performance is measured.
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*(All drivers & Passengers)
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Table 2. Road Deaths in Ireland 1959 to 2012
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Year
No. Road
Deaths
1959
306
1960
302
1961
332
1962
339
1963
335
1964
341
1965
356
1966
382
1967
416
1968
447
1969
462
1970
540
1971
576
1972
640
1973
592
1974
594
1975
586
1976
525
1977
583
1978
628
1979
614
1980
564
1981
572
1982
533
1983
535
1984
465
1985
410
1986
387
1987
462
1988
463
1989
460
1990
478
1991
445
1992
415
1993
431
1994
404
1995
437
1996
453
1997
472
1998
458
1999
413
2000
415
2001
411
2002
376
2003
335
2004
374
2005
396
2006
365
2007
338
2008
279
2009
238
2010
212
2011
186
2012
161
Total
23,239