ALMOST 40 children have been killed or seriously injured in road accidents in Limerick over the past eight years, new research has shown.
The Child Casualties Report, published by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), showed that 38 children aged from newborns to 15 were killed or seriously injured on roads across Limerick from 2014 to 2022.
Nationally, the report showed that two in three child casualties were pedestrians or cyclists.
The Child Casualties Report, released as part of Irish Road Safety Week, showed that there were 908 children killed or seriously injured across Ireland during the same eight-year period.
Over half (51 per cent) of those children were pedestrians, 28 per cent were passengers, and a further 18 per cent were cyclists.
In 2022, three in four children who were killed or seriously injured were classed as “vulnerable road users”.
Sam Waide, CEO of the RSA, said that the report reveals “concerning trends”.
“Children are among our most vulnerable road users, and they are less able to protect themselves from traffic hazards. They are at a high risk of being injured or killed on our roads.
“We are particularly concerned because we have also noted an increase in child fatalities in 2023. The research also showed that 67 per cent of the child casualties happened on urban roads with speed limits of 60km/h or less.”
Mr Waide said that this was a big cause for concern and highlighted the need to reduce distractions while driving to lead to safer roads for all.
“While the majority of children killed or seriously injured were on urban roads, we must also note that rural roads involve risk, in particular for children as car passengers.”
“Reducing speed, driving without being under the influence of drink or drugs, avoiding driver distraction, and using front and rear seatbelts (and child car seats/restraints where required) are vital measures for the road safety of children in Ireland,” he said.
“We cannot afford to be complacent or careless when it comes to road safety. We all have a duty to make all our roads as safe as possible for everyone, especially for our children.”
