Report reveals only slight fall in road deaths

A total of 411 people died on the roads in the Republic in 2001, a reduction of only four on the previous year, figures released today show.

According to the annual report by the High Level Group on Road Safety, the number of road deaths have remained relatively constant for the past three years, despite the increased spending and resources being pumped into Government campaigns.

However, the figures show the level is down 13 per cent from the 472 deaths in 1997. There were 419 fatalities in 1999, and the numbers have remained constant since. On June 30th last, there were 189 deaths since the start of the year, compared to 185 at the same stage in 2001.

However, the figures for serious injuries show huge reductions, with 18 per cent fewer people badly hurt in road incidents in 2001 than the previous 12 months. This translates to a 43 per cent reduction since 1997.

Speaking at today's unveiling of the new penalty points for drivers scheme, the Minister for Transport, Mr Brenna,n said he was encouraged by the figures.

But he conceded it was below the target of 20 per cent reduction in deaths over five years set in 1997. It was "not as much as we'd hoped, but it was good progress.

"Like violence, there is no acceptable level of road deaths," he said. "We have to do something to stop this slaughter, there were around 4,500 people wiped out in the past ten years".

The study also reveals that drink-driving remains a major factor in the number of deaths and injuries on the roads. There were nearly 13,000 cases detected by the gardaí in 2001, with 58 per cent of blood and urine and 32 per cent of breath samples showing overdouble the legal limit for alcohol.

The High Level Group is made up of senior members of An Garda Siochána, officials from the Transport, Health and Justice Departmentsand representatives from the Irish Insurance Federation, the National Roads Authority, the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, the National Safety Council and the County and City Managers' Association.