Speeding is seen as the biggest cause of motor accidents for both the general population (41%) and amongst 44% of drivers. Carelessness was recorded in second place amongst 17% of drivers, followed by drink driving or having taken drugs a close third place recorded by 16% of drivers. These are the findings of a new survey of 1,000 people nationwide, 774 of whom are drivers, carried out by iReach Insights on behalf of Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC (Aviva).
Other causes contributing to road accidents amongst the respondents to the survey include the use of mobile phones while driving (11%), aggressive drivers (6%), and poor roads (5%). Only 1% of drivers believed weather conditions were a cause of motor accidents.
The Aviva survey found that:
- More women (50%) than men (31%) attributed speeding as the biggest cause of motor accidents, and highest amongst those aged 55+ (46%) and aged 25-34 at 45%
- Those aged 25-34 were the most likely (19%) to consider that drink driving or using drugs when driving was one of the biggest causes of accidents on our roads
- Poor roads as a reason for motor accidents was highest amongst the youngest age cohort of 18–24-year-olds and amongst 13% of men (women: 5%)
Unfortunately we continue to see a deterioration in driver behaviour on our roads evidenced by the increase in traffic fatalities this year. Records released by An Garda Siochana* on traffic fatalities up to 21 August 2023 reveal that 112 people have lost their lives on our roads, an increase of 14 fatalities on the figure released over the same timeframe last year and 28 more deaths than for the comparative figure for 2019. Drivers represented the highest number of fatalities (41) from those 112 deaths recorded on our roads to date, followed by pedestrians (27). These figures also exclude those who have been seriously injured or have had life changing injuries because of a road accident.
Alan Behan, Motor Product Manager at Aviva
“The doubling of fines for motorists across a range of road safety offences late last year, with the speeding fine increased from €80 to €160, does not appear to be a sufficient deterrent to encourage more improved driver behaviour on our roads. Both the Road Safety Authority and An Garda Siochana issued a stark warning in early August on the dramatic increase in deaths on our roads this year, claiming the statistics are the worst recorded in six years. And, they are not merely statistics, as behind every fatality is a family and friends left bereft without their loved one.
“As drivers, we must all play our part in taking great care when travelling on the roads. We need to work together to reverse this worrying trend of tragic accidents on our roads”, concluded Alan Behan.