Drivers have been warned to be especially vigilant this week after figures compiled by a leading insurer showed today to be the most dangerous day of the year on the roads.
The Hibernian Crash Report is based on analysis of claims received by Hibernian Insurance since 2000. It identified December 20th as the worst day for road accidents and found a consistent increase of up to 40 per cent in motor claims made in the week before Christmas.
Christmas Day itself is the safest day of the year, however, with deserted roads helping to reduce the average number of daily claims by half.
Hibernian's managing director Dick O'Driscoll said the findings ought to prompt road users to be especially careful this week.
"Obviously we receive more claims during winter months of darkness and poor weather conditions than we do during the summer. However, the huge jump in claims that we see in the week leading up to Christmas Day is way beyond the norm.
"We would strongly urge people to take extreme care this week, especially on long journeys during hours of darkness."
The report identified young people as those most likely to be involved in collisions. In 2004, 39 per cent of those killed were aged 17-29, a figure slightly above the EU average of 36 per cent.
Thirty-eight per cent of Hibernian fatalities were over 50, significantly higher than the corresponding EU average of 27 per cent.
Studying the timing of fatal car crashes, the survey found that 35 per cent occurred between 10pm and 6am, while 40 per cent occurred at weekends.
These trends are broadly consistent with Garda research published in The Irish Times last week, which showed that 45 per cent of fatal accidents take place between midnight and 4am.
"What has really shocked us," said Mr O'Driscoll, "is the fact that it is clear that speed was a factor in a majority of deaths of young people in the 17-29 age group. Not only that, but also most cars involved in these fatal accidents had three or more occupants in them.
"We are all aware of the stereotype - young male, speed, maybe alcohol, country road late at night. It's when you see the stereotype reflected in bald statistics that it makes for particularly chilling reading."
The company has compiled a county-by-county analysis of its claims data for 2004 and 2005. This concludes that Wexford is the most dangerous county in which to drive, followed by the midland counties of Meath, Kildare, Laois, Carlow, Tipperary and Monaghan. The safest counties in which to drive are those with the largest urban populations, Dublin and Cork.
The insurer has advised motorists travelling this week to allow more time than usual for their journeys, to check that all lights and indicators are working properly and to ensure that all passengers wear seatbelts.
Gardaí in Malahide in Dublin, meanwhile, are seeking witnesses to two serious road collisions which took place on the same road last week.
The first occurred on the N32 at Coolock at 9.50am on December 13th, when a woman motorist was seriously injured after her car collided with a trailer that had become detached from a Renault van.
The following day, a 12-year-old boy, a pedestrian, was killed when he was hit by a car on the N32 at 4.40pm. Witnesses to either accident are asked to contact gardaí on (01) 666 4600.
