Life is busy, we get it. Whether you're running late for the kids' football match or rushing home to watch Strictly, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) wants to remind everyone to stay safe this Bank Holiday weekend.
The road is a shared space, and yet 60% of pedestrian fatalities from collisions involving a vehicle are due to cars. Rushing while you're driving isn't worth the risk of serious injury or death for yourself and others.
Almost nine in ten serious injuries to pedestrians occur on urban roads, along with 55% of pedestrian fatalities. Dublin and Cork represent the highest instances of fatalities and serious injuries in collisions.
To stay safe while driving, slow down in urban areas, especially when approaching pedestrian crossings. Use dipped headlights so other road users can see you coming.
As the darker evenings continue, more vulnerable road users, such as older pedestrians, face an increased risk. The greatest share of pedestrian fatalities occurs among those aged 75 and over. Slowing down is essential to keep our most vulnerable road users safe.
The RSA's pedestrian spotlight report for 2020-2024 found that 34% of pedestrians seriously injured in collisions were aged 25 or under, and slightly more than half were male.
Regardless of age or gender, drivers should slow down and look out for pedestrians in busy areas. One in five pedestrian fatalities happens at a junction, while three in ten serious injuries occur there too.
The darker evenings have arrived, and it's estimated that the risk of a pedestrian collision rises by two to four times in darkness compared with daylight. A third of pedestrian fatalities happen between 4pm and 8pm, with a further third occurring between 8pm and 4am.
If you're out walking, make sure to cross the road safely by looking carefully and checking for oncoming vehicles.
Seventeen per cent of serious injuries to pedestrians happen while crossing the road, and two-thirds of pedestrian deaths involve men. If a pedestrian crossing is available, use it.
If there is no pedestrian crossing available, stop and wait near the edge of the footpath or, if there is no footpath, at the edge of the road. Wait for traffic from both directions to pass, then look right, left and right again before crossing.
Once the road is clear, walk briskly in a straight line across the road rather than diagonally. Keep watching and listening for traffic as you cross.
If there is no footpath, remember to walk on the right-hand side of the road, facing oncoming traffic.
Like all road users, pedestrians should take care when out and about. During the darker evenings, wear reflective clothing so drivers can see you.
Reflective clothing allows you to be seen from 150 metres away. This gives drivers five times the distance to notice you and, most importantly, a greater chance to avoid you.
Stay safe this Bank Holiday weekend. For more information on road safety, visit RSA.ie.
