National Collision Profile and Overview of Dangerous Behaviours Driving for Work Seminar 2023 Velma Burns RSA Research Manager 22/11/2023
Overview of national road safety data
Collision data Who, what, when, where All road users
Initial investigation Less detail
Road user studies/SPIs Self-report attitude and behaviour studies Observational surveys
Coronial data Analysis of driver and motorcycle driver (‘driver’) fatalities that occurred during 2015-2019. The RSA has coronial data for 362 of the 431* drivers killed on Irish roads during 2015-2019 (84% coverage).
Overview of provisional fatality and serious injury data Figures current as of 25 October 2023
Long term trend fatalities Fatalities increased in 3 of last 4 years. Reaching the 2024 target of 122 a significant challenge. 250
80
192
188 150
154
146
140
134
41
35
100
155
162 41
RSS 60 Target
182
163
50
136
40
38
35
122
32 28
29
28
30
27
30 20
50 10
Figures for 2020 to 2022 are provisional and subject to change
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
0 2013
0 2012
Number of fatalities
200
Fatalities per million population
70
Road user profile last 5 years Motorcyclist and pedestrian fatalities are highest in last 5 years 80 70 60
38% of fatalities
74
69 61
58
52
50
43
39
40
33 25
30 19
20
15
18
22
27 20 9 8 10 7 7
10
15 16 17
22 23 0 0 1 0 2
0
Driver
Passenger 2018
• •
Pedestrian
Pedal cyclist
2019
2021
2020
Motorcyclist
2022
8% of drivers killed over 2018-2022 were driving for work. 23% of drivers involved in fatal collisions were driving for work. Figures for 2020 to 2022 are provisional and subject to change
Other
Long term trend serious injuries Nine serious injuries for every fatality in 2022. 2000
1503
1600
1360*
1359
1400 Break in series
1200
965
1000
759
600
474
508
2013
800
2012
Number of serious injuries
1800
1425*
1145
1056
2024 RSS Target 1,133
827
400
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
0
2014
200
*2021 and 2022 serious injury data is provisional and subject to change. There can be significant fluctuations in serious injury numbers until such time as records are fully updated.
Road user profile serious injuries Significant increase in serious injuries among pedestrians in 2022, children feature strongly. 500 450
444
400
472 464
461
57% increase
368
351
350
306
301 300
268
250
204 212
200
195
260
287 248
227 224
210
226
220
182 180
183
159
146
150 100 50 0
Driver
% share of serious injuries
Passenger
2018
33%
15%
Pedestrian
2019
2020
25%
Pedal cyclist
2021
Motorcyclist
2022
15%
13%
Figures for 2021 and 2022 are provisional and subject to change. Percentages do not add to 100% due to rounding of percentages.
Road traffic fatalities in 2023 (as of 31 October) There have been 158 fatalities on Irish roads, representing 35 more deaths (+28%) compared to 2022
Over a quarter were aged 16-25 years
Fatalities are highest in the past six years
Almost half (49%) of fatalities occurred between 8pm and 8am
Average of 16 fatalities a month
Almost half (49%) of fatalities between Friday and Sunday
Increasing number of fatalities among passenger, pedestrians and motorcyclists
Approximately 7 in 10 on rural roads, with a speed limit of 80km/h or greater
Note: All data for 2020-2023 are provisional and subject to change. Fatality figures from January-December used to calculate 2006-2022 monthly average, while figures from January-October used to calculate 2023 monthly average.
Overview of dangerous behaviours
Dangerous behaviours influencing death and serious injury on our roads International evidence Speed (Safe Speeds) - 5% reduction in average speed ≈ 30% reduction in fatal collisions (WHO, 2017).
Impaired Driving (Safe Road Use) Distraction - Approximately 4 times more likely to be involved in a collision (WHO, 2022).
Impaired Driving (Safe Road Use) Intoxicants – Drivers with a BAC between 50-80mg alcohol per 100ml blood are between 5-10 times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision (ETSC, 2022).
Protective Equipment (Safe Road Use) Seat belt wearing – Wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of fatal or serious injuries by approx. 60% (ERSO, 2022).
Fatigue is estimated to play a role in up to 20% of road traffic collisions, and is associated with increased crash risk (European Road Safety Observatory, 2018).
Speed
SPI 5 – Safe Speed Speeding Road Type
% Speeding
Sample Size
Urban Roads (50 km/h)
77%
9,203
Rural Roads (100 km/h)
29%
8,141
Motorways (120 km/h)
15%
14,654
▪ 75% of HGV drivers exceeded the speed limit on rural roads (where the speed limit for HGVs is 80km/h) and almost 30% exceeded the speed limit on motorways (where the speed limit for HGVs is 90km/h).
▪ There was a higher incidence of speeding in the early morning hours, e.g., the 4am-8am time period.
Methodology Observation study using both temporary (urban 50 km/h) and TII’s permanent (rural 100km/h and motorway 120km/h roads) automatic traffic counters Fieldwork and traffic count data from October 2021 Approach allowed for comprehensive data collection at all times across the entire week across a range of vehicle types
Speeding Driver Attitude and Behaviour surveys, Base: All Motorists Very Often/Often/Sometimes 2022
61 57
53
Exceed 50km speed limit by less than 10km Exceed 100km speed limit by less than 10km Exceed 50km speed limit by more than 10km Exceed 100km speed limit by more than 10km
Why do weekly 48car drivers 48 speed: 45 41 No crash experience, lack of 37 36 35 34 enforcement, social norms, 29 35 27 26 24 overconfidence 48
24
19
21
47
55 50
32
29
27
26
23
Sept 2022, N=1026, online, weekly car drivers 2014
2015
2017
2019
2020
2021
Driver fatalities who exceeded a safe speed (2015-2019) N = 86 ❑ 333 of the 362 driver fatalities (2015-2019) had a record of their action(s) prior to the fatal collision*.
26%
❑ 26% (n = 86) of the 333 driver fatalities with a record of their action(s) were exceeding a safe speed. ❑ 87% of the 86 driver fatalities who exceeded a safe speed were male.
74%
❑ 69% of the 86 driver fatalities who exceeded a safe speed aged <35 years. ❑ 76% of these 86 fatal collisions occurred during Friday-Monday, with 31% of them occurring on Sunday.
Exceeding a safe speed Driving at a safe speed
❑ 71% of these 86 fatal collisions occurred on rural roads (limits ≥80km/h). *Up to 10 actions can be recorded per driver fatality.
Driver fatalities who exceeded a safe speed (2015-2019) Other dangerous behaviours Non-seat belt wearing
Alcohol
❑ 57 of the 86 driver fatalities who exceeded a safe speed were driving a vehicle with seat belts. 56 of the 57 driver fatalities had a record of whether or not they wore a seat belt.
❑ 79 of the 86 driver fatalities who exceeded a safe speed had a toxicology result available.
❑ 55% of those driver fatalities were not wearing a seatbelt.
❑ 56% of those driver fatalities had a positive toxicology for alcohol*.
*A positive toxicology for alcohol was recorded where the BAC of the deceased was >20mg alcohol per 100ml blood (or equivalent in urine/vitreous humour).
Intoxicated driving Alcohol and other drugs
SPI 15 – Safe Road Use Intoxicated driving with alcohol 11
10 8 6
Methodology Online self-report questionnaire
Nationally representative sample of 1,013 car drivers aged 17+ who drive regularly (at least once a week).
With alcohol in the past 12 months
2021
With alcohol in the past 30 days
2022
When speaking to weekly car drivers in the last 12 months – 1 in 10 say they have driven after drinking alcohol Similar to findings in the DAB where, between 2014 and 2021, on average 9% of drivers surveyed drove after consuming any alcohol in the past 12 months
Fieldwork November/December 2021 and December 2022 Over the last 12 months/30 days, how often did you as a CAR DRIVER, drive after drinking alcohol?
Impaired driving with alcohol DAB 2014 – 2021, All motorists
Social Norms (acquaintances/friends) Unacceptable
Question: To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements? Most of my acquaintances / friends think driving under the influence of alcohol is unacceptable.
100 90
82
80
80
85
77
72
70 60
Response strongly agree and agree.
50 40
30 20 10 0
2015
2017
2019
2020
2021
Driver fatalities with a positive toxicology for alcohol (2015-2019) N = 122 48% BAC >200mg per 100ml blood
37%
63%
❑ 334 of the 362 driver fatalities (2015-2019) had a toxicology result available. ❑ 37% (n = 122) of the 334 driver fatalities with a toxicology result available had a positive toxicology for alcohol*. ❑ 91% of the 122 driver fatalities with a positive toxicology for alcohol were male. 78% were <45 years of age. ❑ 81% of these 122 fatal collisions occurred during Friday-Monday, with 39% of them occurring on Sunday. ❑ 56% of these 122 fatal collisions occurred between 10pm-6am. ❑ 77% of these 122 fatal collisions occurred on rural roads (limits ≥80km/h).
Positive toxicology for alcohol Negative toxicology for alcohol *A positive toxicology for alcohol was recorded where the BAC of the deceased was >20mg alcohol per 100ml blood (or equivalent in urine/vitreous humour).
Driver fatalities with a positive toxicology for other drugs (2015-2019) Toxicology result available N = 334 Alcohol and other drugs* 140
37% No. of driver fatalities
120
122
14% had a positive toxicology for alcohol and at least one other drug category
100 80
60
13% 40
45
11% 37
20
7% 24
7% 22
Cannabis
Opioid(s)
0
Alcohol
Cocaine
Benzodiazepine(s)
*A positive toxicology for a drug does not imply impairment. Driver fatalities may have had a positive toxicology for more than one drug category, and more than one drug within one category. 7 drug categories were examined in total.
Impaired driving Mobile phone use
SPI 13 – Safe Road Use Mobile Device Vehicle Type % Using Mobile Device
Sample Size
Car
5%
11,107
LGV
11%
2,135
HGV
9%
667
PSV
9%
236
Methodology
The percentage of all drivers using mobile devices was lowest on urban roads (5%), rising to 7% on rural roads, and 12% on motorways.
Manual observation of 14,145 vehicles at the roadside of mobile device usage (mobile phones and other mobile devices) by drivers at 139 sites Fieldwork was conducted in June and July 2022 All route types were included in the study; weekend and weekday coverage; different vehicle types, daylight hours only
Mobile phone use while driving DAB 2014-2020, Base: All Motorists Very Often/Often/Sometimes 60
52 51
60
2022 online survey of weekly car drivers
50
41 42 40
36
30
28
20
13 10
10 10 12 9
Respond social media
20
Check social 25 media
Write messages/emails
27
Check 35 notifications
10
9
6
6
6
4
3
3
3
4
0
Talk hands-free
Talk handheld 2014
2015
Text 2017
2019
2020
Check apps
Those who drive for work Self-reported behaviours
Driver Attitude and Behaviour Survey 2021 Across each of the dangerous behaviours - driving after drinking alcohol, while fatigued, without a seat belt, and speeding, those who drive for work are disproportionately more likely to engage in these behaviours Dangerous Behaviour Speeding
All motorists Those who drive for work Exceed 50 km/h speed limit by more than 10 km
10%
15%
Exceed 100km speed limits by more than 10km
8%
13%
Overtake the car in front even when it keeps appropriate speed (on roads with 100km or 120 km speed limit)
9%
17%
Fatigue
Have ever fallen asleep or nodded off while driving
24%
30%
Seat Belts
How often do you use seat belts when you are a ...DRIVER
97%
92%
Alcohol
In the last 12 months - driven a motor vehicle after consuming any alcoholic drink
9%
14%
In summary Evidence shows significant engagement in all dangerous behaviours Large proportion of driver fatalities (2015-2019) were speeding or drink/drug driving in the lead up to the crash Increased social acceptability of drink driving a concern Current self-report data shows concerning levels of mobile phone use, and speeding by drivers Higher perceived levels of personal acceptability and safety for speeding relative to mobile phone use High risk groups: male, under 45, those who engage in multiple dangerous behaviours, and those who drive for work. Given that approximately 1 in 5 drivers involved in fatal and serious injury collisions are driving for work at the time of the collision, it is critical that employers prioritise policies to promote safe driving behaviours.
Thank You Velma Burns Research Manager, RSA vburns@rsa.ie