18 roads deaths so far this year

Last night’s fatal road traffic collision in County Carlow which claimed the lives of three people, brings the total number of road deaths in Ireland so far this year to 18.

The single vehicle collision occurred at around 23:30 last night (Wednesday) on the Wexford Road in Co Carlow.

Three occupants of the car, the driver and two passengers, were pronounced dead at the scene. Another passenger in the car was taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

For the month of January 2024, 18 people lost their lives in road traffic collisions on Irish roads, three less for the month of January 2023 (21) and an increase of four for January 2022 (14), according to the latest figures from An Garda Síochána.

Last month’s total of 18 is also six times more than January 2021 (3) and double that of January 2020 (9).

Gardaí have today issued a fresh road safety messages ahead of the St Brigid’s bank holiday weekend.

An extensive Garda roads policing operation is taking place throughout this weekend from 07:00 today (Thursday) and 07:00 next Tuesday, 6th February.

Gardaí say their data shows that the risk of a fatal or serious injury road traffic collision is highest between 12:00 and 15:00 during the St Brigid’s Day bank holiday weekend, and that the risk of a fatal or serious injury road traffic collision is highest on the Friday (tomorrow).

The five-day period of the St Brigid’s bank holiday weekend in 2023 resulted in one road death, 167 arrests on suspicion of drink/drug driving, over 2,700 detections for speeding, and 80 detections for seatbelt offences.