Latest Road Fatalities Stats (article)

mike65

Death crash cost hurtles through €728m 'barrier'


SINGLE vehicle accidents are responsible for most road deaths now costing €728m a year, a major new report reveals.

Most fatalities are caused by male drivers losing control and veering to the wrong side of the road, according to the National Roads Authority 'Road Accidents Facts Ireland 2002' report.

The vast majority die in single vehicle crashes linked to alcohol, falling asleep at the wheel and speeding.

For head-on crashes involving two vehicles which made up 28pc of deaths the main factor was a driver of one vehicle "veering to the wrong side of the road".

Out of 105 single vehicle deaths over 40pc of the drivers or passengers died when the car hit a ditch (39 deaths), while 26 lost their lives when the car ploughed into a wall or gate.

A shocking 192 people - more than half the death toll last year - were killed on straight stretches of road.

Most deaths occurred between 9pm and 3am, which, the report says, is the time most associated with drink driving. This high-risk period is blamed for 32pc of fatalities.

Sunday and Monday are the worst days of the week for road deaths accounting for 37pc of all fatalities (140 deaths).

Driver error was responsible for 86pc of all fatal accidents, followed by pedestrian error (9.7pc), the road condition (2.5pc ), vehicle defect (0.3pc) and the environment (1.4pc).

The biggest cause of deaths was drivers going to the wrong side of the road (39pc), exceeding the speed limit (20pc), driving through a stop or yield sign (9pc), improper overtaking (5pc), failing to signal (2pc), and driving through other traffic signals (1pc). A variety of other actions made up the other 20pc.

Single vehicles accounted for 30pc of all fatal accidents followed closely by head-on crashes which made up 28pc of deaths, and pedestrian deaths at 25pc.

The only conclusion I can draw from these figures is that
there are a lot of tired/drugged/drunk ppl on the roads on thier way home...and the new drink drive law cant come into force quick enough.

from Monday, motorists who commit a range of minor infringements, such as double parking or driving with faulty lights, can also be tested to see if they are above the alcohol limit.

Transport Minister Seamus Brennan is also to introduce a further amendment to laws which will give extra powers to gardai to breathalyse drivers at the scene of an accident.

The two amendments to existing legislation will constitute a major part of Mr Brennan's plans for a pre-Christmas blitz by gardai on drink driving.

The minister will tomorrow bring in the urgent amendments to the Road Traffic Act to make sure the breath-testing procedures are legal.

Both items from unison.ie

Mike.

star gazer

If they are on straight stretches of the road and there is no apparent cause to lose control, then there is the tragic possibility that some of those drivers chose to do what they did (ie commit suicide).

mike65

That was mentioned in a radio interview but the guy being interviewed said there was little other evidence to back that idea up - ie no sucide note, strange behaviour beforehand etc....

Mike.

Sleipnir

yeah I don't think I believe the suicide one tbh.
Most people who decide to end their lives don't decide to take another, random, unknown person (or family) with them.
Plus, there are far easier, quicker and 'guaranteed' (sorry, that's not really the right word to use!) to end your life.
Straight road? Just too fast most of the time I'd say.

seamus

Originally posted by Kananga
Straight road? Just too fast most of the time I'd say.

Yep, or just generally driving beyond your capabilities. Guy sees a straight stretch of road, decides that it's safe now to change his radio or look at his map, and ever so slightly veers off the edge, and hits the ditch at 60+.
Or falls asleep, or reacts badly to a sudden gust of wind, or something else.

Floater

Full report here

Victor

The biggest problem with last year's report was it gave lots of statistics and no conclusion or recommendations.

I haven't looked over the figures, but it seems to be much the same as last year - a single fatal error. Most accidents happen on a straight road, during the day, in good conditions, with a sober driver - only one factor goes wrong and Bang!

Originally posted by seamus
Guy sees a straight stretch of road, decides that it's safe now to change his radio or look at his map, and ever so slightly veers off the edge, and hits the ditch at 60+.

Or send a text message.:rolleyes:

SINGLE vehicle accidents are responsible for most road deaths now costing €728m a year, a major new report reveals.

Whoa baby! This “most” includes vehicle – pedestrian deaths.

Most fatalities are caused by male drivers losing control and veering to the wrong side of the road, according to the National Roads Authority 'Road Accidents Facts Ireland 2002' report.

Wrong. While most accidents involve males and “losing control / veering to the wrong side of the road” are the leading causes, the conclusion that “Most fatalities are caused by male drivers losing control and veering to the wrong side of the road” is wrong.

The vast majority die in single vehicle crashes linked to alcohol, falling asleep at the wheel and speeding.

Wrong! You mean they run over pedestrian and / or crash while one or other is in such a state?

For head-on crashes involving two vehicles which made up 28pc of deaths the main factor was a driver of one vehicle "veering to the wrong side of the road".

Congratulations. Driving the wrong way up a one way street / carriageway being the other major cause on head-on crashes.

Out of 105 single vehicle deaths over 40pc of the drivers or passengers died when the car hit a ditch (39 deaths), while 26 lost their lives when the car ploughed into a wall or gate.

Wrong. 39 divided by 105 is 37%.

Most deaths occurred between 9pm and 3am, which, the report says, is the time most associated with drink driving. This high-risk period is blamed for 32pc of fatalities.

32% is not “most” – it is, however, disproportionate.

Sunday and Monday are the worst days of the week for road deaths accounting for 37pc of all fatalities (140 deaths).

Compared to 28% (2 divided by 7) average. Yes, there is a bias towards the weekend, although in the previous year it was Friday & Sunday I believe.

Driver error was responsible for 86pc of all fatal accidents, followed by pedestrian error (9.7pc), the road condition (2.5pc ), vehicle defect (0.3pc) and the environment (1.4pc).

Note cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists, etc. are counted as “drivers”.

The biggest cause of deaths was drivers going to the wrong side of the road (39pc), exceeding the speed limit (20pc), driving through a stop or yield sign (9pc), improper overtaking (5pc), failing to signal (2pc), and driving through other traffic signals (1pc). A variety of other actions made up the other 20pc.

You forget stupidity, lack of foresight and arrogance.

Victor

http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/topstories/2031587?view=Eircomnet

Accidents on Irish roads cost €728m last year, says report
From:ireland.com
Wednesday, 26th November, 2003

The average cost of a fatal road accident last year was €1,357,489, according to figures compiled by the National Roads Authority.

The NRA's Road Accident Facts 2002 report estimates the total cost of all road accidents last year was around €728 million. It also estimates that accidents resulting in serious injury cost an average of €168,461, while minor-injury accidents cost an average of €16,142.

The report, due to be published this week, is the 10th annual review of information provided to the NRA by the Garda. It shows a total of 376 people were killed on the roads in 346 fatal accidents in 2002. This represents a decline of 35, or 9 per cent, on 2001.

The reduction in road deaths is concentrated in November and December of last year, confirming the effectiveness of the introduction of the penalty points system for speeding motorists. Garda statistics for most of this year point to a continued decline in road deaths.

Where the cause of accidents was specified, driver error was cited by gardaí in 86 per cent of cases. The next most listed factor, pedestrian error, accounted for less than 10 per cent. Road factors accounted for 2.5 per cent of all listed contributory factors.

The report says almost 70 per cent of fatal accidents or those involving injuries only in 2002 occurred in dry weather. Almost 56 per cent occurred on a dry road while more than 56 per cent occurred on a straight road. Accidents involving only one vehicle were reported in 30 per cent of all fatal crashes while head-on collisions accounted for 28 per cent.

On a county-by-county basis, Longford emerges as having the highest accident rate in the State. The county recorded 3.1 accidents per 1,000 population and 6.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles. Offaly has the lowest rate per 1,000 population and one of the lowest per 1,000 licenced vehicles.

Ireland recorded the seventh-lowest road fatality rate in the EU. There were 10.7 fatalities per 100,000 population in 2002, a reduction of 0.3 compared to 2001. Men accounted for 72 per cent of fatalities on the roads in 2002, although the gender of the victim was not specified in all cases.

seamus

Originally posted by Victor
Note cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists, etc. are counted as “drivers”.

Motorcyclists are just as prone to death through driver error (in fact more prone), travel as fast, and in the same road area (ie the middle) as cars.

Victor

I had a run through it last night. Lots of observations not made, men and older women (65+) are much more likely to be victims as pedestrians.

The hour after midnight is three times more deadly than the hour before midnight. Time to provide last bus after the pubs close.

The point about Sunday being the most dangerous day fails to point to these being accidents happening between midnight and 5am on Sunday - i.e. Saturday night drinking, not Sunday driving up to Dublin. Tuesday is the safest day.

The evening rush hour is substantially more dangerous than the morning rush hour.

The M50 is one of the safest national roads in the country, beaten only by the N29 (Douglas - Ringaskiddy) with no accidents at all and the N33 (not recorded).

Several areas experienced increases in the number of deaths (mostly in the west), despite the introduction of penalty points.

With nearly 1,000 injuries, but only 17 deaths, the social cost to Dublin is greatest from injuries, not deaths.

On the following, costs (to society) have been weighted against deaths and injuries, based on Garda figures included in the report.

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On the chart note the day is "wrapped" into the previous and next days.

an_taoiseach

http://www.bast.de/htdocs/fachthemen/irtad//english/we2.html

Not much detail & a bit out of date ( sorry )

Compared to a lot of other countries our slaughter rate would seem to be not much out of line

Not that thats saying much:(

I think the slaughter per person kM travelled is a useful figure & would be interesting to see for cycles vs motorcycles vs cars vs trucks for Ireland


An T

Greenman

Very interesting stats an_taoiseach it looks like Portugal is not the place to be!!!

mike65

Hav'nt checked the file but I think Portugal is about twice as bad as we are for fatalities so 4 times worse than the UK or Sweden....Dont drive in Portugal.

I think the slaughter per person kM travelled is a useful figure & would be interesting to see for cycles vs motorcycles vs cars vs trucks for Ireland

I think the motor-cyclist would win that one....

Mike.

Victor

Originally posted by mike65
I think the motor-cyclist would win that one....

You mean loose, surely.

mike65

Victor, you know what I mean! Thankfully its not a competition...

Mike.

an_taoiseach

Indeed

What I was wondering is just what order of magnitude difference there is between each ..........



An T

Victor

Originally posted by an_taoiseach
What I was wondering is just what order of magnitude difference there is between each ..........

Whatever about vehicle km or passenger km or ton km, motorcycles account for perhaps 3-5% of traffic, but 16% of deaths.