Statistics relating to road accidents, based on information provided by the Garda Síochána, are published by the National Roads Authority in its annual road accident facts reports. The most recent report is in respect of 2002 and is available in the Oireachtas Library along with reports relating to previous years. The table below sets out the number of fatalities in Ireland from 1997 to 2002, the number of pedestrian fatalities in Ireland from 1997 to 2002 and the number of fatalities in north Tipperary for each of those years. The reports do not give details of pedestrian fatalities broken down by county.
|
Year
|
1997
|
1998
|
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
|
Number of Road Deaths in Ireland
|
472
|
458
|
413
|
415
|
411
|
376
|
|
Number of Pedestrian Road Deaths in Ireland
|
130
|
114
|
92
|
85
|
89
|
86
|
|
Number of Road Deaths in North Tipperary
|
9
|
12
|
7
|
13
|
7
|
5
|
Provisional figures for the number of persons killed in road traffic collisions in 2003 show there were 336 fatalities for that year. Statistics relating to the number of traffic accidents in north Tipperary during 2003 are not yet fully analysed and authenticated. They will be set out in Road Accident Facts 2003, which will be published by the National Roads Authority. Provisional figures for 2004 indicate that at 22 November 2004, 332 people had lost their lives on the roads in Ireland.
It is generally accepted that road safety issues such as the wearing of high visibility jackets are best promoted by way of educational and publicity campaigns, such as those undertaken by the National Safety Council. The National Safety Council has developed school resource packs relating to road safety for both primary and secondary schools in order to promote safe behaviour. The rules of the road includes a strong recommendation supporting the use at night by pedestrians outside of urban areas of light coloured clothing and reflective armbands.
