Ten people were killed on Donegal roads in 2023, up from eight the previous year.
Nationally, 184 people lost their lives, according to the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
Last year saw the highest number of fatalities in almost a decade, after 192 people lost their lives on the roads in 2014. The figures represent a 19% increase in road deaths compared to 2022.
Road fatalities fell during the pandemic, with 136 deaths in 2021 and 146 in 2020.
Of the 184 road deaths in 2023, 69 were drivers, 44 were pedestrians (three in Donegal), 34 were passengers, 26 were motorcyclists, eight were cyclists and three were e-scooter users.
The counties that recorded the highest number of deaths were Tipperary (16), Dublin (15), Cork (15), Galway (13) and Mayo (12). These accounted for 39% of the total fatalities.
We have asked Donegal County Council’s Road Safety Officer for a comment.
RSA Chairperson Liz O’Donnell said “we must do more”.
“I welcome the proposed introduction of a national strategy on camera-based enforcement which, I understand, will be prioritised in 2024,” she said.
“A national strategy will ensure a consistent approach to the selection and use of the different forms of camera technologies as well as supporting the development of a roadmap for the rollout of camera-based enforcement and ensuring that enablers such as funding and other critical resources are identified.”
This year’s figures reveal a high proportion of male fatalities, a continuation of 2022’s increased level of pedestrian fatalities and a high number of fatalities taking place at night when there is less traffic on the roads.
In 2023, 78% of fatalities were men (144) and 22% (40) were women.
There were 44 pedestrian deaths, which is one more than in 2022.
The last time there was a higher number of pedestrian fatalities was in 2011 (47).
Almost half of fatalities occurred between 8pm and 8am, compared with 35% in 2022, despite lower traffic volumes during these hours.
Over a quarter of fatalities were aged 16-25 years, compared with 16% in 2022.
Almost half (46%) of fatalities occurred between Friday and Sunday.
Tags:
