Weekends are proving to be a very dangerous time to drive in Ireland, according to the Road Safety Authority.
The June Bank Holiday saw seven tragic deaths on our roads, bringing the total number of fatalities in 2022 to 77.
This figure is causing major concern, and the RSA has said it marks an unwelcome change since making "great strides in bringing down road fatalities over the last 10 years."
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, Liz O’Donnell, the chair of the RSA said: “The weekends are showing up as a dangerous time to be out on the road, half of the fatalities are at the weekend.
“We’re really concerned about the rising trend this year.”
Ms. O’Donnell went on to explain that these upward trends suggest drivers need to slow down and be more aware of vulnerable road users as well as basic road rules.
“The last few years we’ve had the lowest and safest record for road safety in Ireland and we have made great strides in bringing down road fatalities over the last 10 years,” she said.
“So we’re concerned that this year there is already 77 deaths and that’s way up on last year in the same period.”
The majority of road fatalities in 2022 are made up of people travelling by car, but there has also been an increase in the number of motorcycle deaths over the past two years, and so the RSA is "particularly worried" about riders.
“17 this year, 21 last year," she said.
“That’s a very high rate of death by people using motorbikes and we’re calling for motorists, in particular, to slow down and be mindful of vulnerable road users.”
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