127 Road Deaths in the First 6 Months of 2009
Provisional figures released by the Road Safety Authority today, Wednesday 1st July 2009, show that in the first six months of 2009, a total of 127 people lost their lives on Ireland’s roads.
In total, 63 drivers and 21 passengers have died, representing the majority or 66% of road fatalities. 20 Pedestrians have died accounting for 16% of fatalities, 19 Motorcyclists (15%) and 4 cyclists (3%) have also been killed.
80% (101) of all fatalities were male and drivers in general aged between 17 and 25 accounted for nearly a third of all driver fatalities, highlighting the fact that males and this age group remain a particularly vulnerable road user category.
Over half (53%) of all fatal crashes on our roads, in the first six months of 2009, took place over the weekend. During this high risk period two thirds of fatalities occurred between the hours of 8pm and 8am. Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday morning was the worst time of the week for road fatalities.
RSA Launches Register of Approved Driving Instructors
From 1st May 2009 learner drivers paying for driving lessons should only use a ‘full permit’ holding Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) registered with the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
That’s the RSA’s message to learner drivers following the introduction of new laws which, for the first time, regulate driving instructors in Ireland.
2 OUT OF 3 CHILD CAR SEATS FITTED INCORRECTLY
RSA ‘Check it Fits’ Roadshow Offers FREE Safety Check!
The Road Safety Authority’s child’s car seat ‘Check it Fits’ Roadshow, which offers parents the chance to have their child car seats checked for FREE by UK and Irish experts, will take to the road again from Wednesday 27th May to Sunday 31st May 2009.
Research conducted at previous ‘Check it Fits’ Roadshows indicates that as many as 2 out of 3 parents are fitting child car seats incorrectly in their car. In fact, over half of the child car seats checked (51%) would provide little or no protection to a child in the event of a crash.
National Association of Approved Driving Instructors