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THE NUMBER OF road deaths across Europe has decreased for the second year in a row latest statistics show.
The preliminary 2017 road safety statistics which were released this week by the Commission, show a decrease in the number of fatalities of around 2%.
A total of 25,300 people lost their lives on EU roads in 2017, which is 300 fewer than in 2016 (-2%) and 6,200 fewer than in 2010 (-20%). The Commission said that while this trend is encouraging, reaching the EU objective of halving road fatalities between 2010 and 2020 “will now be very challenging”.
The Irish Road Safety Authority said:
Ireland’s road safety performance is better than the EU average and has improved further from 2016 to 2017 (-15%), reaching 33 fatalities per million inhabitants. This is an encouraging trend but it is important that we do not allow ourselves to become complacent. Last year, cyclist fatalities increased by 50 % and this is something that cannot go unnoticed. Ireland’s ranking as the 5th safest country in the EU is down to the country’s commitment to road safety and the efforts of individual road users in making roads safer.
It also estimated that another 135,000 people were seriously injured last year, including a large proportion of vulnerable users:
Beside the victims, road fatalities and injuries also affect the society as a whole, as they have an estimated socio-economic cost of €120 billion a year.
The Commission said that this should lead to fresh efforts from all actors to make European roads safer.
It’s currently working on a series of concrete measures to spur further substantial progress.
Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc said: “25,300 people lost their lives on our roads last year, and many more were left with life-changing injuries. Behind these figures are as many stories of grief and pain. Road safety is of course a responsibility shared with the Member States, but I believe that the EU can do more to better protect Europeans. The Commission is currently working on a series of concrete measures that we plan to announce in the coming weeks. The ambition is clear: saving more lives on our roads.”
Safe roads
There are an average of 49 road fatalities per one million inhabitants, which means that European roads “remained by far the safest in the world in 2017″.
Within the EU, Sweden (25 deaths per million inhabitants), the UK (27), the Netherlands (31) and Denmark (32) reported the best records in 2017.
Compared to 2016, Estonia and Slovenia reported the largest drop in fatalities with respectively -32% and -20%.
The performance gap between EU member states further narrowed in 2017, with only two of them recording a fatality rate higher than 80 deaths per million inhabitants: Romania and Bulgaria.
The commission is currently working on a new road safety framework for 2020-2030, together with a series of concrete measures contributing to safer roads.
It said:
This could include a revision of the European rules on vehicle safety, on infrastructure safety management and an initiative for the safe transition to cooperative, connected and autonomous mobility.
The commission is planning to present these measures to member states in spring 2018.
After all that you’ve come to the conclusion that we sometimes have good weather in June. Lucky I’m in working reading this , if it was in my own spare time I’d be a little upset.
Ridiculous nonsense. …we’re a small island in the north Atlantic with zero influence on our weather
It’s called June, you dopes.
So it will snow in December so with that logic! I think you are the dope!
Wrong, Ciaran.
It’s sunny every June in Ireland – it rarely ever snows in December. Try again.
Exam Weather!! Exam weather!
Jasyus some people will find an argument in anything..good luck lads.
In fairness lads. There was a lot of work went into this article. At least acknowledge that much.
Jesus, a long boring column about sunshine in June.
This was cleared up by Danny Healy Rae.
God decides the weather.
And he send sunshine at the start of the Leaving Cert every year to punish us for teaching girls maths.
Brilliant!
What an absolute waste of journalism
Maybe stick do dealing with actual important issues for this sort of article. Leave this nonsense for that other section about “Irish Mammies”, “notions” and rubbish from Twitter.
We asked a psychic cat what the best Irish name is. You won’t believe what it said…
That cat has notions
Holy moley , you know a talking cat? What did it say?
Click here to find out.
Hilarious video of Irish Mammy reacting to psychic cat.
Eh don’t knock the author , some poor commenter sent in this as a fact check request !
Yeah, and they chose to run with the stupid question.
Ronan. .must read, yea right…but kudos to ur research!
Weather wasn’t good for the Exams last year if anyone remembers we had a terrible Summer none of the Flowers grew well this year so far the Flowers are growing great so should have a good Summer
FACT HUNT
I still remember myself and my mother splitting a bottle of wine while having salad in the garden the Sunday before my leaving cert and passing out in the sun. Woke up with the worst sun burn. Good times
What? A fact check about the weather? Don’t you know all the readers wanna do is comment on abortion, I hope ye are not trying to report on other issues!!!!
How in the name of God do you log in with a twitter account. I’ve been trying for days. It just won’t allow it.
It keeps saying login error or log out of the app (no option to do this) and log back in. Over and over again.
Patrick, not sure but there’s an option to log out of your Facebook account and then log in with your Twitter
Doesn’t work. I’ve tried that a few times. Tried uninstalling and reinstalling again. Tried the computer also. It just won’t work. I’m beginning to think I’m either mad or stupid or both.
I’ve recommended they do a fact checking article on whether you’re doing it right or wrong. Let’s get to the bottom of this one.
I’m definitely doing it wrong. Do an idiots guide to logging in with Twitter. That’d help.
Do you have the twitter app on an iphone and do you use it?
Samsung Galaxy S5
Using it now. Only allows my Facebook though. It’s not a big deal but it has become an issue because it just won’t do it. Now I have to get it to work.
Has anyone else experienced this? I see ye all with your Twitter eggs now and it grates.
Patrick set ur twitter account with someone’s phone you known and have their permission to use.it should work then . it’s then separate from your phone.
Number
Thanks Sparky. I’ll try that. Seems kinda silly though. Maybe if that’s the case I’ll try to uninstall Facebook and messenger and try to log in with Twitter then. That might work so. Should be able to reinstall them afterwards again. There is nothing about this problem anywhere though.
Oh I get what you are saying now. I just use their number but can still have the account on my phone. the penny drops.
It is but it worked for me..the only problem is now I’ll have to argue with u on two accounts. Lol
Its only one issue sparky. You might find me reasonable on others. Bloody complicated rigmarole for a stupid egg, though. Maybe they could explain the situation some bit in the accounts page. Another resentment added to the list.
Just hope you got it sorted..I’m sure I will.
Ah Patrick, don’t be jealous of our eggs now , although sparky’s is a nicer colour than my one !
Jasus can I go back to bed, I thought the coffee was doing its job for a minute
Total rubbish.
By the way.
Google “Hitler Weather”.
have your say