Road deaths almost halved in past decade

marmurr1916

Happy New Year to all!

Some good news from 2010. There were 212 deaths on Irish roads last year, down from 411 in 2001:

The number of deaths on the State’s roads in 2010 was the lowest since records began 50 years ago, with December’s total of 10 fatalities the lowest monthly figure in five decades.

Chairman of the Road Safety Authority Gay Byrne said that while the recent cold spell had likely contributed to the low number of deaths in December, road fatalities had almost halved in the past decade.

“This is very heartening news,” he said yesterday.

He believed the introduction of random breath-testing and the penalty points system, along with the establishment of a dedicated Garda Traffic Corps, had all combined to change driver behaviour in recent years.

While Mr Byrne was always reluctant to comment on reductions in fatalities for fear a tragic period on the roads might lie ahead, he believed the full roll-out of the new speed camera network in the months ahead should further improve road safety.

“The next challenge that we face, of course, is drug-driving. The situation in places like Europe, the UK and US shows us that drug-driving is almost as big an issue as drink driving; there is always only a few percentage points in it.”

Assistant Garda Commissioner John Twomey, who is in charge of road traffic enforcement, welcomed the reduction in fatalities but warned that decisions by drivers would dictate trends for 2011.

He urged motorists to reduce speed, particularly in light of the continued roll-out of the new privately operated system of mobile speed cameras.

“We all have a responsibility to think about safety every time we use the roads. Complacency is never an option when it comes to road safety and I want people to bear this in mind throughout 2011.”

A reduction of just 1km am hour in average speed had been found in research to bring about a 2 per cent reduction in minor injury collisions, a 3 per cent fall in serious injury collisions and a 4 per cent fall in fatalities.

The number of deaths on the roads in 2010, as of 3pm yesterday, was 212, according to official Garda figures. This was the lowest since records began 50 years ago, some 26 lower than 2009.

In 2001, the number of people killed on the roads was 411, meaning road deaths have almost halved during the past decade.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0101/breaking2.html

IMO road deaths have fallen for a number of reasons:

1. Safer roads. Many major routes are now motorways or dual-carriageways or have been otherwise improved and made safer.

2. Safer cars. Modern cars have many more safety features than cars from even 10 years ago. Various scrappage schemes, and the NCT, have combined to increase the quality of cars being driven on Irish roads.

3. Increased enforcement. Although a huge amount obviously remains to be done (see the Bizarre/Illegal things on motorways thread for example) in terms of basic enforcement of the rules of the road, at least some efforts are now being made.

4. Better medical techniques. More people now survive what would have been fatal crashes thanks to improved medical techniques.

5. Improved driver behaviour. Possibly, although I have my doubts...

Chris_5339762

He believed the introduction of random breath-testing and the penalty points system, along with the establishment of a dedicated Garda Traffic Corps, had all combined to change driver behaviour in recent years.

While Mr Byrne was always reluctant to comment on reductions in fatalities for fear a tragic period on the roads might lie ahead, he believed the full roll-out of the new speed camera network in the months ahead should further improve road safety.

This is a load of bull****, its the fact that the motorways have been opened, mainly, that has halved the number of deaths. Its very rare to be honest that you hear of someone dieing on the M8. Wheras the old N8 was a deathtrap due to head-ons.

Just see how often someone dies on the N20 for a comparison

Jayuu

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

This is a load of bull****, its the fact that the motorways have been opened, mainly, that has halved the number of deaths. Its very rare to be honest that you hear of someone dieing on the M8. Wheras the old N8 was a deathtrap due to head-ons.

Just see how often someone dies on the N20 for a comparison

I'd agree that the motorway network has had a huge impact on these figures but I do think he has a point about our changing attitudes to road safety.

For example I would never consider drinking and driving these days but its fair to say that in the early-90s I would have had no problem with having two or three drinks and then driving home. If you look at advertising campaigns over the years they have changed to emphasise that message and we've adapted to it. If you had suggested "Never Ever Drink and Drive" as a slogan back in the 80s or 90s people wouldn't have listened to you. I remember a slogan of "Just Two Will Do" for one Christmas campaign.

Inappropriate speed is now probably the main area for targeting and hopefully the mobile stations will be put in appropriate locations on dangerous stretches of road to encourage drivers to slow down in these places. Over a period of 10-15 years this idea will gain traction as well.

ForiegnNational

marmurr1916 wrote: »

5. Improved driver behaviour. Possibly, although I have my doubts...

I agree with all of the above and would like to add:

6. Improved Driving Test requirements. No longer is the irony that people fail there tests and drive themselves home the norm!

Although having said that Cork Gardai seem reluctant to pull the small number of remaining solo L plate drivers, but are happy shotting ducks in a barrell with their new Gatso's!

D'Peoples Voice

True, there is a trend to be fair!
http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Road%20Safety/Crash%20Stats/Road_deaths_Ireland59_to_09.pdf

Table 2. Road Deaths in Ireland 1959 to 2009
Year       No. Road Deaths        Year       No. Road Deaths
1959           306                1970           540
1960           302                1971           576
1961           332                1972           640
1962           339                1973           592
1963           335                1974           594
1964           341                1975           586
1965           356                1976           525
1966           382                1977           583
1967           416                1978           628
1968           447                1979           614
1969           462                1980           564

Year       No. Road Deaths       Year       No. Road Deaths
1981           572               1991           445
1982           533               1992           415
1983           535               1993           431
1984           465               1994           404
1985           410               1995           437
1986           387               1996           453
1987           462               1997           472
1988           463               1998           458
1989           460               1999           413
1990           478               2000           415

Year       No. Road Deaths
2001           411
2002           376
2003           335
2004           374
2005           396
2006           365
2007           338
2008           279
2009           240
2010           212****(just added it in for completeness)
Total         22884

It is worth reminding ourselves of what the most dangerous roads in Ireland for fatalities (some of which have been improved/replaced)
Here are the figures from an old study from the NRA which has since been removed

1998-2002
Road Carriageway Fatal/injury
N1          Dundalk town to Co. Down border         3km Single 88people
N2          M50 to Ashbourne Dublin                12km Single 72people
N21         Tralee to Castleisland                 16km Single 69people
N25         Waterford to Kilmeadan                  7km Single 37people
N52         Junction with R400 south of Mullingar  15km Single 25people
N53         Dundalk town to Co. Armagh border      13km Single 61people
N54         Monaghan town to Co. Fermanagh border  21km Single 46people
R394        Castlepollard Road to Edgeworthstown   19km Single 33people
N75         Thurles to N8 Tipperary                 9km Single 25people
N78         Athy to R430 Newtown Cross             18km Single 35people

Victor posted an article on child casualties here - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055366319&highlight=road+safety+statistics
Interesting study...http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055163201&highlight=road+safety+statistics
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055011374&highlight=road+safety+statistics
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=128949&highlight=road+safety+statistics
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=144705&highlight=road+safety+statistics
http://www.driveandstayalive.com/info%20section/statistics/multi-country_death-rates_1988-2001.htm

marmurr1916

D'Peoples Voice wrote: »

True, there is a trend to be fair!
http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Road%20Safety/Crash%20Stats/Road_deaths_Ireland59_to_09.pdf

Table 2. Road Deaths in Ireland 1959 to 2009
Year       No. Road Deaths        Year       No. Road Deaths
1959           306                1970           540
1960           302                1971           576
1961           332                1972           640
1962           339                1973           592
1963           335                1974           594
1964           341                1975           586
1965           356                1976           525
1966           382                1977           583
1967           416                1978           628
1968           447                1979           614
1969           462                1980           564

Year       No. Road Deaths       Year       No. Road Deaths
1981           572               1991           445
1982           533               1992           415
1983           535               1993           431
1984           465               1994           404
1985           410               1995           437
1986           387               1996           453
1987           462               1997           472
1988           463               1998           458
1989           460               1999           413
1990           478               2000           415

Year       No. Road Deaths
2001           411
2002           376
2003           335
2004           374
2005           396
2006           365
2007           338
2008           279
2009           240
2010           212****(just added it in for completeness)
Total         22884

It is worth reminding ourselves of what the most dangerous roads in Ireland for fatalities (some of which have been improved/replaced)
Here are the figures from an old study from the NRA which has since been removed

1998-2002
Road Carriageway Fatal/injury
N1          Dundalk town to Co. Down border         3km Single 88people
N2          M50 to Ashbourne Dublin                12km Single 72people
N21         Tralee to Castleisland                 16km Single 69people
N25         Waterford to Kilmeadan                  7km Single 37people
N52         Junction with R400 south of Mullingar  15km Single 25people
N53         Dundalk town to Co. Armagh border      13km Single 61people
N54         Monaghan town to Co. Fermanagh border  21km Single 46people
R394        Castlepollard Road to Edgeworthstown   19km Single 33people
N75         Thurles to N8 Tipperary                 9km Single 25people
N78         Athy to R430 Newtown Cross             18km Single 35people

Victor posted an article on child casualties here - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055366319&highlight=road+safety+statistics
Interesting study...http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055163201&highlight=road+safety+statistics
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055011374&highlight=road+safety+statistics
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=128949&highlight=road+safety+statistics
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=144705&highlight=road+safety+statistics
http://www.driveandstayalive.com/info%20section/statistics/multi-country_death-rates_1988-2001.htm

Thanks for that! Almost unbelievable to see that there were more road deaths in 1959, when traffic levels must have been a small fraction of what they are now, than in 2010!

Amtmann

Astonishing to think that almost 23,000 people have died on our roads. A disgusting figure.

I think that improved roads are certainly a very large factor in limiting the number of deaths, but there has also been a change in culture, particularly regarding drink driving and seat belts. I definitely think that less people speed nowadays too. I'm wasn't born until 1982, so I can't speak for the 70s, but I do remember a more reckless attitude to a lot of things in 80s and 90s Ireland.

Idbatterim

there seems to be quite a few road deaths recently, and alot of them seem to involve single vehicle crashes.

serfboard

marmurr1916 wrote: »

IMO road deaths have fallen for a number of reasons:

1. Safer roads. Many major routes are now motorways or dual-carriageways or have been otherwise improved and made safer.

2. Safer cars. Modern cars have many more safety features than cars from even 10 years ago. Various scrappage schemes, and the NCT, have combined to increase the quality of cars being driven on Irish roads.

3. Increased enforcement. Although a huge amount obviously remains to be done (see the Bizarre/Illegal things on motorways thread for example) in terms of basic enforcement of the rules of the road, at least some efforts are now being made.

4. Better medical techniques. More people now survive what would have been fatal crashes thanks to improved medical techniques.

5. Improved driver behaviour. Possibly, although I have my doubts...

ForiegnNational wrote: »

I agree with all of the above and would like to add:

6. Improved Driving Test requirements. No longer is the irony that people fail there tests and drive themselves home the norm!

And one more thing ...

7. Use of high-visibility clothing by both pedestrains and cyclists.

It is so ubiquitous now, that I'm still shocked when I see people out walking at night-time, particularly on country roads, without it. If you're driving at night-time on a road with no hard shoulder, and another car is coming against you, it's hard enough to see someone walking if they have a high-vis jacket on. Without one, it's impossible.

dubhthach

My father (now retired) use to deal with car accidents and other such incidents in County Galway so I've seen alot of research about this. In general at least 40-50% of road deaths are due to head on collisions. I think the increase in motorways are the main contributor to the reduce in deaths as a result. The politicians go on about random breath tests etc. bah I've never been breath tested in 4years of driving.

flazio

Worryingly on last night's Crime Call traffic section the Traffic Corp Guard said that the first months figures are double the figure from the same period last year.

JupiterKid

Idbatterim wrote: »

there seems to be quite a few road deaths recently, and alot of them seem to involve single vehicle crashes.

I wonder how many of these single vehicle crashes are actually suicides classified as car "accidents"?

I think we can all agree that there is no shadow of a doubt that the building of the motorway network had been massively influential in cutting road deaths, by replacing sections of national primary where head-on collisions took place.

Increased enforcment of road traffic laws has played a part, but the improvement of the road network has been the main factor IMO.

dubhthach

JupiterKid wrote: »

I wonder how many of these single vehicle crashes are actually suicides classified as car "accidents"?

It's a good question but a very hard one to clarify. My dad has said to me before that some of the accidents that he had to go to were potentially suicides. However I would think most single vehicle accidents are probably down to speed/dangerous driving (people hitting ditch/gate post etc after loosing control)

The other major category for road deaths are pedestrians, I know there were two killed recently in different counties.

Aidan1

I wonder how many of these single vehicle crashes are actually suicides classified as car "accidents"?

Very good question. It's made more complex by the fact that there has long been a tradition of attributing suspect single vehicle accidents to 'death by misadventure', so as not to cause undue embarrassment or hurt to families.

In essence, Marmurr is right - there are a range of contributory factors, all of which will play a role. Even things like better passive safety will have helped, cars have better tyres, better brakes (incl abs), better lights, better suspension systems, better wipers, along with a whole range of stability systems.

An interesting comparison would be to look at the overall number of accidents over the period, and then compare the number of deaths and serious injury over that period. I'll bet that all trend significantly downwards, but that the number of deaths per accident is also less now than it was.

dubhthach

D'Peoples Voice wrote: »

True, there is a trend to be fair!
http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Road%20Safety/Crash%20Stats/Road_deaths_Ireland59_to_09.pdf

Table 2. Road Deaths in Ireland 1959 to 2009
Year       No. Road Deaths        Year       No. Road Deaths
1959           306                1970           540
1960           302                1971           576
1961           332                1972           640
1962           339                1973           592
1963           335                1974           594
1964           341                1975           586
1965           356                1976           525
1966           382                1977           583
1967           416                1978           628
1968           447                1979           614
1969           462                1980           564

Year       No. Road Deaths       Year       No. Road Deaths
1981           572               1991           445
1982           533               1992           415
1983           535               1993           431
1984           465               1994           404
1985           410               1995           437
1986           387               1996           453
1987           462               1997           472
1988           463               1998           458
1989           460               1999           413
1990           478               2000           415

Year       No. Road Deaths
2001           411
2002           376
2003           335
2004           374
2005           396
2006           365
2007           338
2008           279
2009           240
2010           212****(just added it in for completeness)
Total         22884

What's interesting if you look at the number of road deaths per 100 thousand of population. Here's a listening I've made using above figures and population as reported in relevant census.

• 1961: 11.77 road deaths per 100,000 population
• 1966: 13.24 road deaths per 100,000 population
• 1971: 19.34 road deaths per 100,000 population
• 1979: 18.06 road deaths per 100,000 population **
• 1981: 16.61 road deaths per 100,000 population
• 1986: 10.93 road deaths per 100,000 population
• 1991: 12.62 road deaths per 100,000 population
• 1996: 12.49 road deaths per 100,000 population
• 2002: 9.59 road deaths per 100,000 population **
• 2006: 8.68 road deaths per 100,000 population
• 2010: 4.74 road deaths per 100,000 population **

** Census in 1976 cancelled for finance reasons, census held in 2002 due to Foot&Mouth, 2010 figures based off CSO April 2010 report.

The 70's were defiantly the most dangerous period to be driving. The 1971 figures are over 4 times higher per head of population then figure for last year -- would be equivalent to over 800 people been killed on the roads in 2010! The dip in 86 I would put down to the economy.

ongarboy

dubhthach wrote: »

The 70's were defiantly the most dangerous period to be driving. The 1971 figures are over 4 times higher per head of population then figure for last year -- would be equivalent to over 800 people been killed on the roads in 2010! The dip in 86 I would put down to the economy.

What's even more scary about the stats for the 70's is that there was probably only maybe one third as many vehicles on the roads then as there is now so you also had way less vehicles creating far more fatalities. It just goes to show that the road safety campaigns combined with better roads and a vastly improved cultural attitude to safe driving/visibility among most road users has meant 1000s of families are not grieving for loved ones in the last 10 years. Long may this trend continue!

munchkin_utd

heres the stats for the increase in numbers of private cars on the roads over the years.
Theres nearly 3 times the cars on the road now than '82 but much much fewer fatal accidents.

Mechanically Propelled Vehicles under Current Licence (Number) by Year
and Mechanically Propelled Vehicle
Private cars

1982	709,000
1983	718,555
1984	711,098
1985	709,546
1986	711,087
1987	736,595
1988	749,459
1989	773,396
1990	796,408
1991	836,583
1992	858,498
1993	891,027
1994	939,022
1995	990,384
1996	1,057,383
1997	1,134,429
1998	1,196,901
1999	1,269,245
2000	1,319,250
2001	1,384,704
2002	1,447,908
2003	1,507,106
2004	1,582,833
2005	1,662,157
2006	1,778,861
2007	1,882,901
2008	1,924,281
Footnote: 
Source: Department of Transport

generated by query:
http://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=TEA11&ti=Mechanically+Propelled+Vehicles+under+Current+Licence+(Number)+by+Year+and+Mechanically+Propelled+Vehicle&path=../DATABASE/Eirestat/Vehicle%20Licensing%20Statistics%20Annual%20Series/&lang=1

Zubeneschamali

ongarboy wrote: »

It just goes to show that the road safety campaigns combined with better roads and a vastly improved cultural attitude to safe driving/visibility among most road users has meant 1000s of families are not grieving for loved ones in the last 10 years.

I'm all for reduced deaths, but the figures don't say that road safety campaigns have made a difference, or that roads have, or attitudes.

For all we know safer cars, or extra enforcement, or changes to the law have made this difference.

We need actual research to establish the causes, or the improvements will stop (as they have in the UK), and we won't know what to do about it.

dubhthach

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

I'm all for reduced deaths, but the figures don't say that road safety campaigns have made a difference, or that roads have, or attitudes.

For all we know safer cars, or extra enforcement, or changes to the law have made this difference.

We need actual research to establish the causes, or the improvements will stop (as they have in the UK), and we won't know what to do about it.

Well as I've said before research shows 40-50% of road deaths are from head on collisions something impossible with proper grade separated motorways. But even if those figures are wrong it is interesting that the number of deaths per population almost halfed between 2006 and 2010. The main development in those 4years was the opening of the interurban Motorway network.

KevR

flazio wrote: »

Worryingly on last night's Crime Call traffic section the Traffic Corp Guard said that the first months figures are double the figure from the same period last year.

Saw that and it does seem shocking on the face of it. But it must be said that we had a really bad cold spell in January 2010 which meant many people were avoiding unnessecary travel and those that did venture out had to drive at extremely low speeds. Not very cold in January 2011..

ardmacha

There may be something in the theory about cold weather last January. But also as the number of fatalities declines then the variability will increase, as a single accident with 3 fatalities might significantly increase a monthly total. Fatalities halved in NI in 2010 compared to 2009, but this is partly due to statistical valriation and it might even increase slightly this year without there being a real increase in danger.

ongarboy

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

I'm all for reduced deaths, but the figures don't say that road safety campaigns have made a difference, or that roads have, or attitudes.

For all we know safer cars, or extra enforcement, or changes to the law have made this difference.

We need actual research to establish the causes, or the improvements will stop (as they have in the UK), and we won't know what to do about it.

It may very well be due to what you speculated above or a combination of all. It does not necessarily have to be one or two individual factors. As regards law enforcement, I think what happens over time is that a large segment of drivers change their habits on the back of those enforcements so that safe driving becomes instinctive and normal practice and not just (i'm only slowing down or not driving erratically because there might be a speed camera ahead). I know large segments of younger generations don't drink and drive, not because they fear getting caught but that it has become socially unacceptable among them. Likewise, seatbelt wearing is instinctive among a majority of drivers now. I remember not too long ago, guys that used to only put on their belts when they saw a checkpoint ahead and then undid them as soon as they passed them. How daft does that seem now.

Child restrainers and seats, while they existed in the 1970s/80s, how many parents used them back then? It is inconceivable for most parents now to pile kids in the back without the correct restraints. My own parents packed 6 of us in the back seat and boot of our estate car. The thought of how catastrophic a rear end collision would have been for us sends shivers down my spine now! I'm not having a go at my parents for being safety averse because it was just seen as normal back then.

You are correct however to say, that we should have more scientific measurements of what are the real factors for improved safety so that they can be concentrated on should the stats start going the wrong way again.