 Donegal Road collision facts 1997 - 2009 - Speed - Biggest Killer on Donegal Roads - A new report published by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána, entitled ‘Donegal – Your Road to Safety’ shows that a total of 307 road users were killed in road collisions in the county of Donegal over the period 1996-2009. Donegal also accounted for 6% of all road deaths in Ireland despite making up only 3.5% of the Irish population (1996-2006 censuses). The report was published to mark the launch of a new initiative which will see the RSA and An Garda Síochána visit counties around Ireland in an effort to assist local agencies strengthen road safety in the community. Donegal is the first county to be visited as part of the new ‘Your Road to Safety’ campaign. At the launch of ‘Donegal – Your Road To Safety’ in Letterkenny IT, the RSA, An Garda Síochána, the local ‘Donegal Road Safety Working Group’ and Rally Driver Toni Kelly, who is from Donegal, set out the road safety challenges and priorities facing the county. Specifically, the new report published at the launch highlighted the fact that between 1996-2009, Donegal accounted for 6% (307) of all road deaths in Ireland despite the county making up only 3.5% of the Irish population (1996-2006 censuses). In addition, 1,184 were seriously injured over the period 1996-2009. In 2010, provisional data from the Garda indicates that, 19 persons died on the roads of Donegal. Other key findings from the report are: • Excessive or inappropriate speed is the biggest killer on Donegal roads. Two out of five (125, 40.7%) of all road deaths in Donegal were speed related; • 78.4% of all road deaths in Donegal where excessive speed was cited as a contributory factor occurred on Friday, Saturday and Sunday; • 27.7% of Donegal road fatalities were male aged 17-24. However, where excessive speed was a contributory factor, this figure rose to 40%; • 27.4% of car drivers and passengers killed in Donegal were not using seatbelts. Assistant Commissioner Kieran Kenny, An Garda Síochána, Northern Region, said, “Speed as a factor in collisions accounts for two out of five road deaths in Donegal. In an effort to prevent further loss of life, An Garda Síochána have targeted the places where people have died in such speed related crashes. To build community ‘buy in’ we have published the whereabouts of these locations. However we would much prefer it if everyone voluntarily made the decision to slow down and save a life.” Mr. Noel Brett, Chief Executive of the RSA said: “Donegal has paid a heavy price on its roads with countless members of the community killed or maimed over the years. But it doesn’t have to be this way. By working together we can protect our local communities from further tragedy. The key to making roads safer in Donegal rests with the people and communities in the county. Road safety is everyone’s responsibility.” Also speaking at the launch was Toni Kelly, professional rally driver and RSA Road Safety Ambassador, who is a native of Donegal. Toni had a special message for those attending the upcoming Topaz Donegal International Rally from 17th to 19th June: "As a spectator, watching a rally take place right in front if your eyes is an exhilarating and exciting experience but many often forget that it is a sport that incurs a lot of background safety checks and strict regulations for those involved. It is not something that just anyone with a car can attempt to replicate. What I would say to any rallying enthusiasts is to look to a professional school or track to fulfil that ambition and not risk the lives and the safety of others by taking to public roads with what can be potentially fatal consequences. Simply put, keep the race in its place." |
