Laois has the safest roads in Ireland so far in 2024

Laois has the safest roads in Ireland so far in 2024, as the only county in the republic without a road death.

New figures from the Road Safety Authority list the deeply worrying death count in every county in Ireland, as the Minister urges people to put away their mobile phones ahead of the August Bank Holiday weekend, with free coffee on offer nationwide - see end of story on how to claim a cuppa.

The highest road death rates are in Dublin and Cork with 14 deaths and Mayo with 13, by July 28.  Laois had no road deaths.

The fatality rate increased in Ireland in 2024. By July 28, there were 113 fatalities, up 17 on the same period in 2023. One in three were aged 25 or under.

Rural roads, which have a speed limit of 80km/h or greater, account for 70% of fatalities, but urban roads have the greatest number of serious injuries.  Drivers represent the highest risk group representing 39% (44) of fatalities.

Of the 113 fatalities so far in 2024, 44 were drivers, 24 were passengers, 21 were pedestrians, 15 were motorcyclists, 6 were cyclists and 3 were e-scooter users.

In addition, as of 28 July 2024, 735 serious injuries have occurred on Irish roads in 2024. This is 84 less serious injuries compared to the same period last year.

A new mobile phone survey shows that 9% of Irish motorists were observed using a mobile device while driving, an increase on the figure of 6% in the 2022 survey.

Minister for State at the Department of Transport, James Lawless TD has urged drivers to be careful this weekend, which has seen multiple deaths for the past four years in a row.

“I am asking drivers to put away their phones and slow down this Bank Holiday Weekend. We have seen a devastating increase in road trauma this year. There are too many people being killed and seriously injured and we must prevent any more families from going through this trauma. 

“Distracted driving due to handheld mobile device usage is one of the dangerous behaviours that leads to road traffic collisions. Drivers using a mobile phone are four times more likely to be involved in a collision. There has also been a deterioration in driving behaviours over the past three years since Covid. As well as speeding, distracted driving and drink driving, there is the significant problem of drug driving, something the RSA, the Gardai and the Medical Bureau of Road Safety are very concerned about,” the Minister said.

This August Bank Holiday Weekend, the RSA and participating Applegreen service stations are providing free cups of coffee to motorists to combat driver fatigue. The offer is available from 2-8pm on Friday 2 August and on Monday 5 August – just mention RSA at the Applegreen till when you’re getting your coffee.