Big fall in road deaths of cyclists and motorcyclists

buffalo

Especially cyclists':

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0511/breaking36.html

Fatalities amongst cyclists and motorcyclists on the State’s roads showed the highest reduction of all road deaths in the last decade, according to figures published today.

Research published by the Road Safety Authority and An Garda Síochána reveals a drop of 75 per cent in the number of cyclists killed between 2001 and 2010. The number of motorcyclists killed in the same period fell by two thirds.

Last year alone, fatalities among motorcyclists fell by 32 per cent (from 25 to 17) compared to 2009 figures. The number of drivers and passengers killed last year fell by 9 per cent on 2009.

In total, 212 people died on the roads here last year compared to 411 in 2001, a drop of some 48 per cent.

The research, which analyses road deaths and serious injuries in the 2001-2010 period, also showed a drop of 58 per cent in the number of serious injuries in road crashes.

An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority, local authority road safety officers and Parc road safety group also today marked the worldwide launch of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020.

The event aims to save five million lives on the world’s roads in the next 10 years. This represents a total reduction of 50 per cent on the predicted global death toll by 2020. Currently, 1.3 million lives are lost and 50 million injuries are sustained as a result of collisions on the world’s roads every year.

Garda Chief Superintendent Gabriel McIntyre said gardai were committed to working with the Road Safety Authority , road safety groups and local authorities throughout the country to promote the UN event.

“Over the past number of years, Ireland has been at the forefront of changing road safety attitudes and behaviour. This has contributed to fewer deaths and serious injuries on Irish roads than ever before and could not have been done without the support of everyone who uses the roads.

“Today we are asking you to renew your commitment to making our roads safer for ourselves, our families and for future road-users.”

Chief executive of the RSA Noel Brett said reducing global road deaths over the next 10 years seemed like an “impossible task” but that Irish road users had shown other countries it was possible.

“In the past 10 years, together we have saved more lives on the roads than ever before but there is still a lot of work to be done to make sure fewer families suffer the grief of losing a loved one.”

Susan Gray of the Parc road safety group welcomed the “huge reductions” in deaths and injuries on the roads.

But she said marking the opening of the UN decade of action required people to reflect on the personal stories behind the “cold statistics”.

“Each one represents a life cut tragically short or altered forever through injury, and a family left behind to cope with a lifetime of pain and suffering.”

Great news in general.

Mucco

Irish Times wrote:

THE NUMBER of cyclists and motorcyclists killed on the roads reduced over the past decade, new research shows.

The decline in deaths for these two groups was greater than for any other groups, according to the figures. Research published by the Road Safety Authority and the Garda reveals a drop of 75 per cent in the number of cyclists killed between 2001 and 2010........

Full article here

I'd say it's probably because helmet-wearing has increased a lot over the last decade.

oflahero

Mucco wrote: »

I'd say it's probably because helmet-wearing has increased a lot over the last decade.

Only ten more hours til Friday. You couldn't wait that long?

ednwireland

already here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056265563

helmet wearing really

Canis Lupus

Mucco wrote: »

Full article here

I'd say it's probably because helmet-wearing has increased a lot over the last decade.

Actually it's a change in road design. They make roads from softer stones nowadays so you don't hurt yourself as badly when you fall off. True fact.

couerdelion

... and all the excellent work the various city councils have done with cycle lanes and placing them on paths...










:P

HivemindXX

Is the 66% fall in motorcyclist deaths is due to increase in helmet usage as well? I thought pretty much every motorcyclist was already wearing a helmet in 2001.

What about the 54% reduction in pedestrian fatalities? I haven't noticed a lot of pedestrians wearing helmets...

The only source giving any indication of the reason for the reduction in road deaths in the article is Chief Superintendent Gabriel McIntyre who indicates the causes might be improvements in the roads and reduction in drunk driving but I'm sure he's wrong and it's all down to bicycle helmets...

Whatever the reason I think we can all agree this is great news.

Beasty

Threads merged

Beasty

poochiem

what are the numbers for cyclist deaths? They give percentage drops there not numbers.
thanks

seamus

poochiem wrote: »

what are the numbers for cyclist deaths? They give percentage drops there not numbers.

That's because the numbers are so low, that a percentage sounds more impressive.

There were 3 cyclists killed last year, versus 12 in 2001, a 75% drop.

I would attribute it to increased cycling numbers, but with figures so low you can't really draw any conclusions. Looking at the figures for the last decade, the deaths seem to peak, then drop for a couple of years, then peak, then drop and so on.

Yes, it is good news and long may it last, but I can't help but think that 3 is a statistical blip.

funkyjebus

These figures are even better considering the rise in the amount of people cycling, which you would think would push the number up, but could equally have a positive effect in making motorists more aware of cylists.

Folks, lets leave the helmet debate alone and just be happy that statistically your less likely to be killed on your commute home tonight!

Iwannahurl

Any stats on changes in the number of people cycling over the same time period?

Beasty

seamus wrote: »

There were 3 cyclists killed last year, versus 12 in 2001, a 75% drop.

...and none so far this year:)

Iwannahurl

seamus wrote: »

That's because the numbers are so low, that a percentage sounds more impressive.

There were 3 cyclists killed last year, versus 12 in 2001, a 75% drop.

I would attribute it to increased cycling numbers, but with figures so low you can't really draw any conclusions. Looking at the figures for the last decade, the deaths seem to peak, then drop for a couple of years, then peak, then drop and so on.

Yes, it is good news and long may it last, but I can't help but think that 3 is a statistical blip.

Quite right.

Beware large percentage changes on a low base.

doozerie

seamus wrote:

There were 3 cyclists killed last year, versus 12 in 2001, a 75% drop.

According to the RSA website, there were 5 cyclists killed last year:

The number of Irish road deaths fell to 212 in 2010, the lowest level on record, down 26 from 2009. The Government’s road safety target of achieving no more than 252 deaths per annum by the end of 2012 was achieved three years ahead of schedule.

The 212 who died consisted of 44 pedestrians, 5 cyclists, 91 drivers, 55 passengers and 17 bikers.

That web page does say that those are provisional figures, mind you, and this is the RSA, so accuracy of the figures is certainly open to question...

Mucco

seamus wrote: »

That's because the numbers are so low, that a percentage sounds more impressive.

There were 3 cyclists killed last year, versus 12 in 2001, a 75% drop.

Thanks for this, I initally assumed it was a combination of reduced traffic numbers (though I don't know whether this is true), plus randomness. It's probably completely random though. In that case, why are the RSA trumpeting it as a major achievement? We could see a 100% rise in deaths next year.

seamus

Mucco wrote: »

We could see a 100% rise in deaths next year.

...and it would still be the second-lowest number of cyclist deaths (assuming that 3 is the correct figure for last year)