LIMERICK saw a slight decrease in road deaths in 2023 compared to the previous year.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) this week published provisional figures relating to road deaths across Ireland, for a year that saw a reportedly higher than usual amount of road traffic collisions.
There were seven fatalities on Limerick’s roads in 2023, compared with 10 in 2022.
Nationally, 184 people lost their lives on Irish roads, an increase from 155 in 2022, representing an increase of 19 per cent.
Last year’s figure marked the highest since 2014, with 192 road deaths.
The figures show that the highest number of fatalities were men, with 78 per cent of those killed on the roads being male, compared to 22 per cent who were women.
Almost half (48 per cent) of the fatalities occurred between the hours of 8pm and 8am, a time when there is less traffic on the roads.
Of the 184 road deaths last year, 69 of these were drivers, 44 were pedestrians, 34 were passengers, 26 were motorcyclists, while eight were cyclists, and three were e-scooter users.
Every group saw a national increase in deaths compared to 2022.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers, said: “2023 has been a heartbreaking and devastating year on Irish roads for so many families and communities all over Ireland. Our thoughts are with all those impacted as we head into a new year.”
“We were able to progress a number of important reforms in 2023 which are specifically targeted at the lifesaver offences which we know are the main contributors to fatal road collisions. The Road Traffic Bill received cabinet approval in December and we will be working to have this essential piece of legislation progressed through the Dáil in early 2024.”
“Work is well underway on a number of other initiatives in partnership with other Government departments and agencies to be delivered throughout this year.
“I would also like to pay tribute and special thanks to our emergency services and first responders who do incredible lifesaving work in the most challenging circumstances.”
RSA chairperson Liz O’Donnell added: “It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the tragic loss of life on Ireland’s roads in 2023. We have had a difficult year in road safety. People are carrying huge grief with them, a grief that doesn’t go away and a void that cannot be filled in their lives. Any one life lost is one too many.”
