The 472 people killed on the State's roads last year included the highest number of motorcyclists (68) for a decade, according to figures issued yesterday by the National Roads Authority.
The number of fatalities was 19 higher than in 1996. The total number of deaths has remained remarkably unchanged from the 463 killed in 1988, although it has fluctuated from a low of 404 in 1994 to 478 in 1990.
Speaking at the publication of the figures, the chairman of the authority, Mr Liam Connellan, said the incidence of death and injury on the roads was unacceptable.
The number of motorcyclists killed was the highest in that decade at 68, up from 58 in 1996. About 37 per cent of fatal motorcycle accidents each year involved no other vehicle or road-user. According to the National Roads Authority, this indicated speed and/or alcohol as significant contributory factors. A third of all motorcyclists killed last year were killed on a Sunday.
Fatalities among the main road-user categories in 1997 were: car-users, 219 (46.4 per cent); pedestrians, 130 (27.5 per cent); motorcyclists, 68 (14.4 per cent); other road-users, mainly goods vehicle-drivers, 31 (6.6 per cent); pedal cyclists, 24 (5.1 per cent).
Factors identified by the Garda as contributing to accidents were: driver (78 per cent); pedestrian (13 per cent); road (5 per cent); environment (4 per cent); and vehicle (1 per cent).
The main factors contributing to fatal accidents involving two vehicles were: crossing to wrong side of road (32 per cent); exceeding safe speed (25 per cent); improper overtaking (10 per cent); and driving through Stop or Yield signs (9 per cent).
Thirty per cent of annual fatalities occurred between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., the hours most associated with drinking and driving. In all categories, fatalities among males, at 72 per cent, were substantially higher than that among females; 79 per cent of car-drivers involved in fatal accidents were male.
Ireland's rate of road deaths in 1996, at 12.4 per 100,000 population, is ranked eighth of the 15 EU member-states.
The total estimated cost of reported road accidents in 1997 was £640 million, based on costings of £886,000 per fatality, £110,000 for a serious injury, £10,500 for a minor injury accident and £1,148 in respect of material damage.