Provisional road safety figures for 2009 that indicate there were 39 fewer fatalities on Irish roads in 2009 as compared to 2008 show that the road safety message is finally hitting home with Irish people. A total of 240 people lost their lives in 2009 – 40 of the fatalities were pedestrians, 128 were drivers, 38 were passengers, 27 were motorcyclists and seven were cyclists – a 14 per cent decrease on 2008, when 279 people lost their lives on Irish roads.

And, while we despaired for a number of years that figures would continue to increase, the Road Safety Authority’s target of achieving no more than 252 deaths per year by the end of 2012 has actually been reached three years ahead of schedule.

Road Safety Authority Chairman Gay Byrne is to be particularly lauded for his role in increasing road safety, as he has exploited his celebrity status to the max and used every opportunity available to him to drum home the road safety message.

Of course, the Road Safety Authority in general is also to be applauded for the decrease, which could not have been achieved without the success of their brilliant, but often harrowing, road safety campaigns, which have touched a chord with everyone who has watched them.

The authority has rightly paid tribute to Irish road users also, with Mr Byrne citing better choices in relation to speeding, driving while tired and wearing high visibility jackets while walking as reasons for the decreasing figures. The gardaí must also be commended for identifying and bringing to book those who break the law and/or drive recklessly.

However, the figures will mean nothing to those families who have tragically lost their loved ones in road accidents, many of whom are based in this county. 240 road deaths is still 240 road deaths too many and too many young people (40 per cent) are still being killed on Irish roads.

The new year is a time when many people make resolutions to give up some bad habits and/or adopt some healthy ones. Therefore, as the meter on road deaths starts running again, now is the time to examine your driving and road use habits and resolve to play your part in making Ireland a safer state in 2010.

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