Road death rate falls to record low

Last month was the safest month ever recorded on Irish roads, according to new figures from the Department of Transport.

The number of road-related fatalities totalled 11 in March, down from 23 for the same month a year earlier.

Last month's total was the lowest recorded number of casualties since records began more than 40 years ago.

During the first quarter of 2010 there have been 40 road-related deaths, down from 57 in the same three-month period last year. Of those killed so far this year, 15 were pedestrians, 19 were drivers and six were passengers.

Fifteen people died on Irish roads in January and another 14 were killed in February.

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey today welcomed the decline in road fatalities, which have been largely attributed to a change in attitudes and behaviour from motorists and a clampdown on drivers.

However, Mr Dempsey added that there were still too many people dying as a result of driving incidents and many more who had sustained life-altering injuries as a result of accidents.

"Road users must continue to step up to the challenge and improve their driving behaviour. This will mean safer roads, more people spared with fewer tragic deaths and serious accidents on our roads," he said.

He called on drivers to be particularly careful over the busy Easter weekend when more peole will be taking to the roads.