Westmeath road users face country"s highest fatality risk

Westmeath road users face the highest fatality risk in the county according to the Road Safety Authority - with the figure per million having risen sharply between 2002 and 2006. In the RSA"s latest report - which outlines road deaths and accidents between 1997 and 2006 and indicates deaths per million of the population - the fatality risk for Westmeath road users was given as 227 per million people in 2006. This gives Westmeath the joint highest fatality risk with Tipperary north. The fatality risk rate in Westmeath rose rapidly between the 2002 figure of 139 per million and the 2006 figure of 227 per million of the population. In total, Westmeath averaged eleven fatalities per year during the nine year period detailed in the figures, the worst year being 2006 when 18 people died. In terms of serious injuries, Westmeath suffered 380 between 1997 and 2006 and 269 injuries not termed as serious due to road incidents. In terms of neighbouring counties, Roscommon saw a decline in fatality risk (from 93 to 85) between 2002 and 2006 while Offaly saw a rise in fatality risk (from 94 million to 127 million). The Road Safety Authority (RSA) released a detailed county by county report. This report comes in advance of "Irish Road Safety Week" which starts on "European Road Safety Day", Monday, October 13 and runs until Sunday, October 19. Over 18,000 people were killed and seriously injured on Irish roads over the 10 year period, 1997 to 2006. To highlight the importance of being safe on the road at all times, the RSA has announced an active local awareness campaign that will be taking place in counties across Ireland to promote "Irish Road Safety Week". Speaking about "Irish Road Safety Week", Noel Brett, Chief Executive, Road Safety Authority said: 'Every member of every community in Ireland has been affected by the tragedy of deaths and serious injuries on our roads. This week, we are asking people to think about road safety and how they behave on the roads. Activity is planned for each county across Ireland, all with a common aim - to work together to help reduce deaths and serious injuries on Irish roads. So we are asking everyone to get involved, find out what"s happening in your town and take advantage of the services being offered to you during "Irish Road Safety Week".' For further information on Irish Road Safety Week and to download a copy of the campaign poster visit www.rsa.ie.