The number of road deaths in Ireland in 2023 increased by 19 percent compared to the previous year, according to provisional figures from the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
A total of 184 people died in 173 fatal collisions in 2023 compared to 155 deaths in 149 collisions in 2022.
The latest figures were published by the Road Safety Authority, following an analysis of provisional fatal collision reports from An Garda Síochána.
They reveal a high proportion of male fatalities, a continuation of 2022’s increased level of pedestrian fatalities and a high number of fatalities taking place at night when there is less traffic on the roads.
Top line statistics for 2023 include:
- The majority of fatalities were male 78 percent (144), and 22 percent (40) were female.
- The number of pedestrian fatalities is slightly above 2022 (+1).
- Almost half of fatalities occurred between 8pm and 8am, compared with 35 percent in 2022, despite lower traffic volumes during these hours.
- Over a quarter of fatalities were aged 16-25 years, compared with 16 percent in 2022.
- Almost half (46 percent) of fatalities occurred between Friday and Sunday, where known.
- There were 34 passenger fatalities in 2023, representing 18 percent of the total road deaths that occurred in 2023.
Of the 184 road deaths in 2023, 69 were drivers, 44 were pedestrians, 34 were passengers, 26 were motorcyclists, eight were cyclists and three were e-scooter users. Compared to 2022, there was an increase in fatalities among all road user groups.
“It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the tragic loss of life on Ireland’s roads in 2023,” said Liz O’Donnell, Chairperson for the RSA.
“We 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.”
