“Ireland Leads EU in Road Death Toll”
Dublin: In Ireland, road accidents and fatalities are becoming an increasingly pressing concern, catapulting the nation to the forefront of road safety challenges within the European Union. Despite previously trailing in this area, Ireland has swiftly emerged as the leading EU country in terms of road accident deaths.
Contrary to the EU-wide trend of a one percent reduction in road fatalities last year, Ireland experienced a staggering 20% surge in road deaths, claiming the lives of 184 individuals. Notably, a significant proportion of the victims were men, marking a 33% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Law enforcement authorities, notably the Gardai, attribute the rise in accidents to factors such as speeding and the use of mobile phones while driving. Disturbingly, research conducted last year revealed that one in ten drivers engage in drink-driving, further exacerbating road safety risks.
Although Ireland maintains the lowest road death rate per million inhabitants among EU member states, its standing has declined in recent years. Formerly ranked fourth in 2021, Ireland now occupies the seventh position as of last year, signalling a concerning regression in road safety standards. This decline is particularly pronounced when considering the 10% reduction in road accident deaths observed in 2023 compared to 2019, juxtaposed with the highest increase in road deaths compared to the previous year, placing Ireland fourth in this category.
This setback occurs amidst concerted efforts by countries to meet EU and UN targets aimed at halving road deaths by 2030. However, Ireland’s regression poses a significant obstacle to achieving these ambitious goals.
In 2022, rural roads across the EU emerged as particularly hazardous, accounting for over half of all road fatalities. Cyclists bore the brunt of this perilous trend, with the number of cyclist fatalities on EU roads reaching alarming levels.
As Ireland grapples with the escalating challenge of road safety, urgent and comprehensive measures are imperative to reverse the concerning trajectory of road accidents and fatalities, ensuring the protection of all road users and the preservation of human lives.
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