164 pedestrians killed and 1,426 seriously injured in the last four years - RSA

Eva Osborne

Between 2019 and 2023, 164 pedestrians were killed and 1,426 sustained serious injuries on Irish roads, according to the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

The Pedestrian Spotlight Report: Fatalities and Serious Injuries 2019–2023 shows that an average of 33 pedestrians lose their lives and 285 are seriously injured every year.

Pedestrians accounted for 22 per cent of all road fatalities and 20 per cent of serious injuries within the four-year period. Notably, for every pedestrian fatality, there were approximately nine serious injuries.

Those aged 75 and older represented the greatest share of pedestrian fatalities (23 per cent), while children aged 15 or younger represented the greatest share of those seriously injured (21 per cent).

Two-thirds (67 per cent) of pedestrian fatalities were male, while over half (55 per cent) of seriously injured pedestrians were male.

Over half of the pedestrian fatalities occurred on urban roads (52 per cent), while almost nine in ten (89 per cent) serious pedestrian injuries occurred on urban roads.

Co Dublin recorded the highest numbers of pedestrian fatalities (18 per cent) and serious injuries (40 per cent).

Chief executive of the RSA, Sam Wade, said: "Pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility. The stark statistics from the two reports highlight the urgent need for all road users to be more vigilant and considerate of pedestrians.

"Children and older people are particularly vulnerable, and the high incidence of fatalities and serious injuries in urban areas underscores the need for better infrastructure and heightened awareness. We must work together to ensure our roads are safe for everyone, especially those on foot."