750. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown of road fatalities by category or cause for the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18263/17]

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Shane Ross):  ​It is not possible to give a breakdown of road fatalities by category or cause over the last five years.  The most recent period for which there is definitive information on contributory factors leading to fatal collisions are the Pre-Crash Studies conducted by the Road Safety Authority, using closed Garda investigation files, covering the period 2008 to 2012.  All these Studies available on the Road Safety Authority's website www.rsa.ie.

  Collisions are very complex, and a single "cause" is very often not possible to determine.  Indeed, there is frequently more than one contributory factor involved in any one collision.

  In the five years covered by the Pre-Crash Studies, the following factors were identified to having contributed to the collisions;

  - Excessive speed was a contributory factor in 32% of fatal collisions;

  - 29% of all 867 collisions involved at least one driver or motorcyclist with a record of alcohol consumption prior to the collision;

  - 9% involved a pedestrian who had consumed alcohol prior to the collision;

  - The condition of the vehicle's tyres was a contributory factor in 8% of all collisions involving a motorised vehicle;

  - In relation to motorycycle fatalities, speed was cited in 49% of cases, and alcohol in 29% of cases, as a contributory factor.

  Further research indicates that a number of other factors also play a role in contributing to fatal collisions;

  - a 10% prevalence of drug driving (Prof. Denis Cusack, 1998 – 2009

  - international academic research indicates that in 30% of collisions distracted driving, 

  - in 20% of cases driver fatigue was a contributory factor

  Furthermore, approximately 20% of those killed in fatal collisions were not wearing a seatbelt and, while not a contributory factor, this certainly affects the outcome of the collision.