There has been a drop in the number of deaths on Irish roads over the last 10 years, according to the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
Ireland’s first road safety strategy was introduced in 1998 and during the same year, 458 deaths occurred on Irish roads, compared to 146 in 2018 – a 68% reduction.
The number is the lowest annual figure for road deaths since records began in 1959.
In 2018, there was a 4 per cent drop in road fatalities showing a continued improvement in Ireland’s road safety performance.
An Garda Síochána said the 149 people lost their lives as a result of 142 fatal crashes, compared to 156 lives lost in 141 fatal crashes in 2017.
The RSA’s international conference in Dublin will be the precursor to the development of the next Government Road Safety Strategy that will run from 2021 until 2030.
However, RSA chief executive, Moyagh Murdock, said a small number of people continue to break the law and do not care about getting caught.
“Reducing fatalities on our roads is not getting any easier,” she said.
“As we take steps to develop the new strategy we need to consider all the factors at play in the coming years such as emerging technologies and new killer behaviours.”