Figures released by the Road Safety Authority show that the first half of 2023 has been the worst in six years for road deaths in Ireland.
Almost one hundred people have died on Irish roads so far this year.
The RSA is warning that if the current trend continues, as many as 168 lives will be lost on Irish roads this year.
Speaking to WLR News, Waterford road safety campaigner Christina Donnelly, whose son Brendan was killed by a drunk driver in 2009, says the figures are a stark reminder of the importance of road safety.
"It's shocking to see that the figures have increased," she said. "When we hear a certain statistic in relation to road deaths, behind each number there is a family member gone and a family left to pick up the pieces and face a very difficult road ahead."
One in four road deaths occur among the 16 to 25 age group - and Christina Donnelly says this must be addressed.
"Whenever I speak with Transition Year students, I always try to instill in them that there isn't anybody pointing the finger at this particular age group, but the statistics show that this is the age group in which we are sadly losing so many people on our roads."
The RSA and Gardaí have warned that years of road safety progress is at risk of being undone, and Christina says we must all take note of the latest findings.
"There is always something to learn," she said. "It could be something we need to change in our way of driving. Each individual has to take responsibility. I have to take responsibility for what I do when I get in behind the wheel of my car to ensure I get home safely and that every other road user gets home safely also."
Data made available from a Preliminary Analysis of Road Traffic Fatalities by the RSA (as of 26 July 2023) has highlighted a number of worrying trends, including:
- Twenty-three young people aged 16-25 have lost their lives so far this year.
- Almost the same number of 16-25 year olds killed (23) in the first half of 2023 as with same period in 2021 and 2022 combined (26).
- Almost half (49%) of all deaths on the roads occurred at night-time (8pm-8am), when the roads are at their quietest.
- Three counties (Galway - 11, Mayo – 10, and Cork - 9) accounted for almost one third of all fatalities.
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