REVEALED: Counties with highest fatalities as Irish road death toll hits 101
The death toll on Irish roads reached over 100 people this week, a 16 per cent increase in fatalities in comparison to this time in 2023.
The death toll on Irish roads this year reached 101 yesterday after a fatal collision in Dublin, meaning the overall number is now 16 per cent higher than last year.
Just one county, Laois, has avoided a road traffic death since the end of December, with several counties exceeding their death tolls for all of last year in just the first six months of this year.
A total of 101 people have died on Irish roads over the first 193 days of the year. The 101st death happened in Dublin in the early hours of this morning, when a motorcyclist in his 30s died after single-vehicle collision on Constitution Hill, Dublin 7 at approximately 2.20am.
Of the 101 deaths so far this year, 38 involved drivers, 20 involved pedestrians, 22 involved passengers, 13 involved motorcyclists, six involved pedal cyclists and two involved e-scooter users.
In the same period last year, 87 lives were lost on Irish roads.
Below is a comaparison breakdown by county of deaths on Irish roads so far. Three counties have already surpassed their 2023 total fatality figures - Kildare, Mayo and Waterford.
New junior transport minister, James Lawless, said every life lost on the roads is a tragedy.
“As a new minister in the brief I have already sought detailed briefings on this area and I am eagerly awaiting the independent review of the RSA which I expect to be on my desk later this summer,” he said.
“I intend to introduce legislation following those recommendations, where appropriate, to give them effect.”
Road Safety Authority (RSA) chairperson Liz O'Donnell said research by the authority has shown “high levels of non-compliance” on the roads, including speeding, use of mobile phones and driving while intoxicated.
In April, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris ordered that every officer must undertake 30 minutes of road policing daily in a bid to combat the alarming spiral in road deaths.