2018 was the safest year since records began.
Provisional statistics released by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) show the number of people who have died on Irish roads in the last year has increased
Their figures show that 148 people lost their lives in 2019, compared to 142 in 2018, a 4% rise.
2018 was the safest year on Irish roads since records began.
The figures have been published by the RSA following an analysis of collision reports by An Garda Síochána.
Figures for 2019 also show a significant drop in pedestrian deaths, down 15, and passenger deaths, down four.
But there was a rise in the number of drivers killed, up 25 from 2018.
“After recording the safest year on our roads in 2018 it is deeply saddening that not only have we lost 148 lives on the road in 2019, but that it represents an increase in road deaths,” Chairperson of the RSA, Liz O’Donnell, said.
“We must respond to this increase the same way we have responded to previous setbacks. Rather than being disheartened it should spur us and our road safety partners into renewed effort. 2020 is also the final year of the Government’s eight year road safety strategy.
“Its primary target is to reduce deaths to 124 or fewer by the end of 2020. Deeper collaboration between all agencies responsible for road safety is already taking place to ensure everything that can be done is being done, not only to reverse the increase in deaths this year, but to achieve the strategy target.
“And it is a target that is very achievable, put simply it means saving two more lives a month, every month next year. Something we should all work together to do in 2020.”
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