Eight lives have been lost on Kerry’s roads in 2023.
Figures released at the recent Joint Policing Committee meeting shows this is the same number as last year; while it is a 17% increase on the 2021, when six people lost their lives.
According to the statistics, there has been a 23% rise in Kerry, in traffic collisions resulting in non serious injuries, in the first nine months of the year.
The figures, presented at the recent Kerry JPC meeting, show as of October 12th, over 1,120 traffic incidents – material damage incidents have been recorded in the county.
This represents a 1% increase on pre-covid figures, when 1,119 were recorded.
The figures were compared to the 2019 statistics, as these are more reflective on the rates recorded in 2023, due to covid times in the intervening period.
Traffic collisions – non serious injury – have risen by 23%, with over 120 incidents recorded so far this year.
Meanwhile, there has been a 15% drop in traffic collisions – serious injury incidents.
29 have been reported in 2023, down from 34 in 2019.
The figures show there has been over 250 arrests in Kerry this year, for driving under the influence; which includes drugs and alcohol.
Speaking at the JPC meeting, Inspector Gary Carroll of the Kerry Roads Division, said there has been a spike in detection of people driving under the influence of drugs in the county.
