The highly active national campaign to reduce road fatalities in Ireland has proved very effective in Westmeath over the last five years with a 65 per cent reduction in deaths, it was revealed this week.
Road fatality figures released by the Road Safety Authority (RSA ) have shown that there was a drop from 14 fatalities in 2007 to five last year in Westmeath during the Government Road Safety Strategy 2007 to 2012 when compared to the period of the previous strategy which ran from 2004 to 2006.
A total of 35 people died in this fashion in Westmeath over this period, with those in cars accounting for just under two thirds (23 ) of these victims.
In the same timeframe eight pedestrians, three bikers, and one cyclist also sadly lost their lives.
To put these fatalities in some context, an average of 35 people died on South African roads every day in 2012.
These figures were announced as the Road Safety Authority prepares to finalise the next Road Safety Strategy which will span an eight year period from 2013 to 2020.
A total of 162 people died on Irish roads in 2012, 24 fewer than the previous year when 186 people died, and 51 fewer than 2010 when 212 people died on our roads.
Between 2007 and 2012, the national average reduction in road deaths was 57 per cent when compared to the number of fatalities between 2004 and 2006.
“The reduction in road deaths in Westmeath shows just what can be achieved when communities come together and say, enough is enough, we don’t want any more people dying on our roads. All it takes to make a difference is for one person to say, I’m going to change my behaviour on the roads so that I can keep myself and others safe when we’re out on the roads,” said Noel Brett, chief executive of the Road Safety Authority.
Road deaths in Ireland have fallen every year since 2006. Ireland’s Third Road Safety Strategy 2007 to 2012 aimed to reduce road deaths to 252 per annum by the end of 2012 and the target was achieved and surpassed three years ahead of schedule in 2009.
While the total number of serious injuries sustained in crashes in 2012 is not yet available, there was a 51 per cent reduction in such injuries up to the end of 2011.
