News & Info

With an increase in road users expected over the coming bank holiday weekend, the RSA and An Garda Síochána are appealing to drivers to slow down and put away mobile phones to help prevent further accidents and fatalities on Irish roads.

Speeding and mobile phone use were two of the three leading causes of road traffic accidents in Ireland, along with drink and drug driving.

The RSA Driver Attitudes & Behaviour Study 2023 showed that 40% of those aged under 35 check notifications, social media or read messages on their phones at least sometimes while driving.

These findings are backed up by the RSA’s Mobile Device Usage Observational Survey 2023, which showed that mobile phone use among drivers increased in comparison to the 2022 survey.

Minister for State at the Department of Transport, James Lawless TD said: “I am asking drivers to put away their phones and slow down this bank holiday weekend.

“Distracted driving due to handheld mobile device usage is one of the dangerous behaviours that leads to road traffic collisions. This is highlighted by data from the World Health Organisation, which indicates that drivers using a mobile phone are four times more likely to be involved in a collision.”

The Driver Attitudes & Behaviour Study also confirmed a rise in the incidence of speeding and driving under the influence post-Covid.

“There has been a deterioration in driving behaviours over the past three years since Covid,” added Mr Lawless. “As well as speeding, distracted driving and drink driving, there is the significant problem of drug driving, something the RSA, the Gardai and the Medical Bureau of Road Safety are very concerned about.”

In separate findings, provisional data from the RSA (2019-2023) has shown 22 per cent of fatalities and 7 per cent of those seriously injured in car accidents, were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision.

A manual observational study conducted by the RSA across 26 counties in the Republic of Ireland showed that seat belt wearing rates by drivers decreased from 99 per cent in 2022 to 95 per cent in 2023, while front seat passenger seat belt rates decreased from 99 per cent to 94 per cent.

Solicitor Paul Tracey said of the findings:

“It’s quite concerning that some people are choosing not to use this absolutely vital piece of safety equipment, which has been proven to save lives since it became mandatory in Ireland for all drivers and passengers, back in 1992.”

“I would appeal to all road users to use seat belts on every single road journey, not just for their own sake, but also for the safety of others in the car. We know that unsecured passengers who are involved in an accident can be seriously injured, as well as injuring others in the car.”

“Finally,” he added, “please drive safely and enjoy this August bank holiday weekend.”