Fatal road accidents up in 2020

THE number of deaths on Louth roads increased last year, despite Covid-19 restrictions.

Nine people were killed in fatal road accidents across the county in 2020, during a time when traffic levels were much lower due to the pandemic.

This was an increase of five on the previous year. Of these, seven were aged under 35.

Louth recorded the highest number of road deaths in the north east last year, compared to Monaghan (3), Cavan (2) and Meath(8).

Statistics from the Road Safety Authority showed that over half of fatalities in 2020 occurred on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday (53%).Around 42%of fatalities occurred between 12pm and 8pm.

While the number of road fatalities increased by nine or 6% there were fewer serious and minor injury collisions recorded, a 25% decrease compared to 2019. The provisional figures which were published following an analysis of An Garda Síochána fatal collision reports show that up to 5pm on the 31 December 2020, a total of 149 people had lost their lives on Ireland’s roads as a result of 138 fatal crashes. This compares to 140 lives lost in 129 fatal crashes in 2019.

Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman, Roads Policing & Community Engagement, An Garda Síochána, said: ‘In these difficult times as we enter another period of high level restrictions, it is important to remember the driver behaviour patterns we witnessed during previous periods of high level restrictions, in particular, increases in speeding and drug driving. These will be of particular focus during 2021. We will work with our partners, with the community and all road users to ensure we all play our part in improving road safety in 2021.’