A total of 133 people died in 120 fatal road collisions in Ireland in 2021, a decrease of nine per cent on the 146 deaths in 135 fatal road collisions in 2020. Tragically, County Galway saw road deaths rise from five in 20220 to 12 in 2021.
While the number of road deaths in Ireland last year was at its lowest since records began in 1959, this is still 133 deaths too many.
These figures are according to provisional road collision statistics from the Road Safety Authority, following an analysis of provisional fatal collision reports by An Garda Síochána.
The figures also indicate that 18 pedestrians were killed in 2021, and that there were increases in fatalities among both drivers (70, +9 ) and motorcyclists in 2021 (21, +4 ).
Provisional figures for serious injuries indicate that 1,091 serious injuries were recorded up to the Tuesday, December 21 compared to 1,105 in 2020.
Counties Leitrim, Offaly and Carlow had zero road deaths last year. Dublin (20 ), Meath (14 ), Galway (12 ), and Tipperary (10 ) had the highest number of fatalities (42% of total ), according to the figures.
Of the fatalities, 24 per cent occurred on an urban road and 76 per cent o,ccurred on a rural road. Over half of fatalities were aged between 16 and 45 years (55% ), while 45 per cent of fatalities occurred between 12:00 and 20:00.
During the course of 2021, more than 175,000 drivers were detected committing speeding offences; over 23,000 people were detected using a mobile while driving; and almost 8,800 arrests were made for driving under the influence of an intoxicant.
