Rate of serious injury collisions on Longford roads more than doubles

The rate of serious injury collisions on two primary county Longford roads more than doubled in 2022 and 2023 compared to the average number during the previous nine years.

Data from the Roads Safety Authority obtained by the Longford Leader following a Freedom of Information request found there were 17 serious injury collisions on the N4 between 2013 and 2021.

There were two serious collisions on the N5 during the same period, which occurred in 2013 and 2018.

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However, the rate of serious injury collisions that occurred on the N4 and N5 increased substantially in 2022 and 2023.

There were four serious injury collisions on the N4 in 2022 and three on the same primary route in 2023.

Meanwhile, the N5 had two serious injury collisions during the 24-month period with both occurring in 2023.

The average number of serious injury collisions on both the N4 and N5 combined between 2013 and 2021 was 2.1 annually.

This jumped significantly to an average of 4.5 serious injury collisions in 2022 and 2023.

Despite the increase in serious injury collisions the number of fatal collisions on the N4 and N5 have reduced significantly in recent years.

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There were 10 fatal collisions recorded on the N4 during the 10 year period, however, the last of those occurred in 2018.

A breakdown showed there were three in 2016, two in both 2018 and 2015 and one fatal collision death recorded in 2013, 2014 and 2017 respectively.

There was one fatal collision on the N5 between 2013 and 2023 and that occurred in 2015.

Earlier this year, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) announced €1.4 million in funding for the N4 project.

Fianna Fáil TD Joe Flaherty said the N4 upgrade is a critical piece of infrastructure and it is important it proceeds, however, there are huge implications for a large number of landowners and householders.

"The fact it has not got a barrier on the road and there are 500 access points, all of those are invariably catalysts for accidents and that is why the road is so important," he added.

Local Senator Micheál Carrigy has regularly called for progress on the N4 upgrade between Longford and Mullingar and 18-months ago he organised a meeting in Leinster House in April 2023

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The Fine Gael representative invited representatives from Chambers of Commerce from around the North West and local businesses who highlighted fears that the lack of investment in the road and ongoing delays would damage economic expansion in the region.

Senator Carrigy stressed there are 500 access points on to the 56km stretch of road between Mullingar and Roosky and a three or lane dual-carriageway or a motorway with a centre median line are badly needed.

"We applied for further funding to get an emergency preferred route announced, that is what I highlighted, the safety concerns of the road," he said. "Apart from the economic benefit of having the motorway extended towards Sligo but it would also significantly reduce the number of accidents and fatalities on the road."

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke said the recent Budget had allocated €1.3bn for national and local road networks and road safety measures to improve and upgrade the condition of roads, which will impact the number of accidents.

“The measures undertaken earlier this year have already had a noticeable effect, with road fatalities in the year-to-date down 4% on last year," he said. “In Longford, significant progress has been made on upgrading the stretch of the N4 from Mullingar to Roosky, with public consultation now open on the preferred route corridor. Once completed, we expect a substantial reduction in the number of serious accidents on that route.”