ONE THIRD OF people who died in road traffic collisions this year were under 30 years of age.

That’s according to gardaí and the Road Safety Authority (RSA), who are warning drivers ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend to take care on the roads.

A total of 48 people have died on Irish roads so far this year.

The number of drivers and pedestrians that have been killed on Irish roads from January to March was above average when compared to the same period over the past five years.

Half of those fatally injured in collisions this year have been the driver, while two-thirds of all fatal collisions involved a single vehicle.

During the first quarter of each of the past six years, for passengers and pedestrians, the largest age group for fatal and seriously injured road users were those aged 20 or younger, the RSA said.

An Garda Síochána has noted an increase in the number of crashes happening on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays – with about double the five-year average number of collisions happening on Friday’s this year.

The number of crashes on Fridays has almost doubled this year compared to the average over the last five years.

Chief Superintendent, Jane Humphries of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau said there is still “some way to go” to get young drivers to heed the law.

Gardaí have run a number of Slow Down Days this year, where they ramp up roads policing efforts to detect speeding and other offences.

“There is a sense among some that gardaí are out conducting roads policing duties to catch people, make their lives difficult by adding penalty points to their licences and cost them money in fines,” said Humphries.

“I can tell you that is absolutely not the case – we are working to help make sure everyone is safe on their journey.

“No garda has ever or will ever take satisfaction in responding to a horrific road traffic collision that has caused serious injuries or death.

Being tasked to call to a home to deliver the worst possible news to a devastated family that their loved one has been killed is something that no garda ever wishes to do. 

Humprhies urged road user this weekend – be it diriving, walking or cycling – to slow down.