Annus horribilis as Tipperary road deaths doubled in 2023 according to RSA figures

Tipperary recorded the most road deaths in Ireland in 2023 according to recently released figures by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

The year 2023 will be remembered in Tipperary as a sobering one with tragic road deaths an all-too-common occurrence throughout the year with 16 people losing their lives which increased substantially from the 2022 figure which claimed seven people's lives.

The figures were published by the RSA following an analysis of provisional fatal collision reports from An Garda Síochána and along with Tipperary (16), Dublin (15), Cork (15), Galway (13), Mayo (12) were the other counties that recorded the highest number of deaths, collectively accounting for 39% of the total fatalities.

Of the 184 road deaths recorded in Ireland in 2023, 69 were drivers, 44 were pedestrians, 34 were passengers, 26 were motorcyclists, 8 were cyclists and 3 were e-scooter users. Compared to 2022, there has been an increase in fatalities among all road user groups: drivers (+11), passengers (+12), motorcyclists (+3), pedal cyclists (+1), pedestrians (+1) and other road users (+1).

Liz O’Donnell, Chairperson, RSA said: “It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the tragic loss of life on Ireland’s roads in 2023. We have 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.

“We must do more, and I welcome the proposed introduction of a National Strategy on Camera-Based Enforcement which, I understand, will be prioritised in 2024.

"A National Strategy will ensure a consistent approach to the selection and use of the different forms of camera technologies as well as supporting the development of a roadmap for the rollout of camera-based enforcement and ensuring that enablers such as funding and other critical resources are identified.”