28 February 2012

50% Increase in Cork Road Deaths Despite National Decrease

Provisional figures have revealed that road deaths in Cork increased by 50% in 2011 (compared to 2010) despite an overall reduction in the number of fatalities on Irish roads. This was revealed at the launch of ‘Cork – Your Road to Safety’ in Cork University Hospital today, Tuesday 28 February 2012 which set out the road safety challenges facing the city and county of Cork. Research presented at the launch by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) also revealed that 1 in 4 road deaths between 1996 and 2010 were as a result of excessive or inappropriate speed, rising to 48% in the case of young male drivers aged 17 to 24.

‘Cork – Your Road to Safety’ is the second in a series of county-focused initiatives which will see the Road Safety Authority (RSA), An Garda Síochána and local stakeholders working together to improve road safety in the community. The event also marked the launch of the newly formed Cork Road Safety Together Working Group.

 

The research also revealed that between 1996 and 2010, 532 people died on Cork roads, representing 1 in 10 (9.6%) of all road deaths in Ireland in that period. An additional 2,239 people were seriously injured. Provisional data from An Garda Síochána indicates that 27 people died on Cork roads in 2011, an increase of 50% on 2010 figures when 18 people were killed.

The research also showed that in the period 1996 to 2010:

• 28% of road fatalities in Cork were young drivers aged 17 to 24. However, where excessive speed was cited as a contributory factor, this figure rose to 48%;
• Excessive or inappropriate speed was a contributory factor in 1 in 4 road deaths in Cork; this rose to 2 out of 3 in the case of single vehicle collisions;
• Over half (52.8%) of all road deaths in Cork where excessive speed was cited as a contributory factor were single vehicle collisions;
• 37.2% of all fatalities were drivers; 19.7% of these were not wearing a seatbelt;
• 1 in 4 (23.4%) road deaths were pedestrians. Of these, over a third were aged 65 and over.

Mr. Noel Brett, Chief Executive of the RSA said: “The national trend in road fatalities was reversed in Cork last year when there was a 50% increase in road deaths in the city and county. 532 people died on Cork roads between 1996 and 2010 and among them were 140 young people aged between 17 and 24. As a community, we have a responsibility to ourselves, our families and our friends to work together and prevent further tragedies on our roads. And it starts today. Think about how you use the roads every day and ask yourself, am I doing everything I can to be a better, safer road-user?”

 

Chief Superintendent Ger Dillane, An Garda Síochána said: “Today’s event reminds us all just how fragile life is and how easily tragedy can happen on the roads. An Garda Síochána is committed to working with other stakeholders in road safety to keep the roads of Cork safe for every road-user but we need your support in order to make a real difference and prevent further loss of life. Reduce your speed on the roads, always wear your seatbelt, and never ever drink or drug drive. Making small changes to your behaviour as a road-user will help to save a life and that’s something we can all play a part in.”

The newly formed Cork Road Safety Together Working Group, comprising members of the National Roads Authority (NRA), Cork City Council and Cork County Council, used the launch to seek support from the community in their efforts to improve road safety in Cork.

Ms Fiona Bohane, National Roads Authority said: “The purpose of the Cork Road Safety Together Working Group is to work with local stakeholders to address the issue of road safety in Cork. As a community, we can and must work together to find solutions to the problems on our road as well as taking responsibility for how we, as individuals, use the roads.”

The full report on Road Collisions in Cork(PDF) can be downloaded here.

ENDS

For further information please contact: RSA Communications Office: 096 25008 Garda Press Office: 01 666 2032 / pressoffice@garda.ie

Presentation(PDF) by Noel Brett, CEO
Cork Road Safety Together Working Group presentation(PDF)
Cork Your road to safety, presentation(PDF) Chief Superintendent Dillane
Presentation by Dr Gerard McCarthy(PDF) Consultant in Emergency Medicine Cork University Hospital