Kilkenny drivers and passengers urged to belt up as five perish on county’s roads
Five people died as a result of accidents on Kilkenny’s roads last year.
The Roads Safety Authority’s (RSA) Annual Review of Road Safety shows the number of deaths on Kilkenny’s roads fell by just one year-on-year, from six in 2019 to five in 2020.
Nationally, there were 148 deaths on our roads as a result of 137 fatal collisions. This represents an increase of eight deaths (6%) compared to the full year of 2019, despite the restrictions on travel imposed in 2020.
The report also found that one in four (25%) drivers and passengers killed in 2020 were not wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.
RSA Chief Executive Sam Waide said: “While it won’t prevent a crash, wearing a seat belt can reduce the severity of injuries, if you are involved in a crash.
“In fact, wearing one reduces the risk of death among drivers and front seat passengers by half, and the risk of death and serious injuries among rear seat occupants by a quarter.
“For most people, putting on their seat belt has become second nature, but as we can see from our analysis of the casualty statistics from 2020, there is still a percentage who don’t.
“I’m asking drivers to make sure they, and any passengers in their car, are wearing a seatbelt before starting a journey. Every Time. Every Trip. Everybody. Belt Up,” Mr Waide concluded.
