Latest news with #RoadSafetyStrategy
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Automotive
- Irish Daily Mirror
Convicted drink drivers may soon have to use breathalyser to get behind wheel
Convicted drink drivers will only be allowed back on the roads if they use a device in which they must pass a breath test before their car will start, it has emerged. The plans are part of phase two of a Government initiative to end drink driving for good and bring down fatal road accidents rates. Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien will soon bring a memo to Cabinet on the Phase 2 Action Plan for the Road Safety Strategy. The draft memo, seen by the Irish Sunday Mirror, stated that the strategy has the 'target of reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030' and to achieve 'Vision Zero', or as close as possible to no deaths or serious injuries, on Irish roads by 2050. The Strategy is divided into three phases: 2021 to 2024, 2025 to 2027 and 2028 to 2030. The plan that will be brought to Cabinet by Minister O'Brien is phase two of the strategy. The draft report is divided into seven 'priority intervention areas,' including safe and healthy modes of travel, safe roads and roadsides, safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe road use, safe-work-related road use and 'post-crash response'. One action, listed under both safe road use and safe-work related road use, suggests introducing more penalties for those who are caught drink driving. This includes the use of Alcohol Ignition Interlocks, a breathalyser fitted to a vehicle preventing it from starting until the driver provides a breath sample below a designated limit. It continues: 'The MBRS (Medical Bureau of Road Safety) tested and approved a number of interlock products in phase one of the strategy, to support the voluntary uptake of these devices, particularly by organisations with large vehicle fleets. 'In phase two, proposals will be brought forward, based on expert medical research, for the possible mandatory use of alcohol interlocks, alongside rehabilitation courses, as a sanction for drunk driving in certain cases.' The report suggests that this will 'lay the groundwork for further action on their deployment in phase three', which will span between 2028 and 2030. As of June 19, there have been 77 people killed on Irish roads so far this year. According to the report, if Ireland wants to reach Vision Zero by 2050, annual road fatalities would need to drop to 72 by 2030. There were 172 road deaths last year, which is above the target of 122 to meet Vision Zero. Other actions in the plan include expanding the 'efficiency and capability of camera-based enforcement to improve road safety by changing driver behaviour'. This will involve using cameras to 'automatically detect mobile phone use and non-wearing of seat belts'. It will also expand 'the use of cameras for traffic management improvements and enforcement of other offences where road safety is likely to also benefit'. Following the Speed Limit Review in 2023, the report recommends continuing with its implementation, including reducing the default speed limit on national secondary roads from 100kph to 80kph and bylaws to extend the number of 30kph zones. The Department of Transport will publish a strategy to take a 'systems approach' to reducing kilometres travelled, air pollution and congestion. The RSA will be tasked with publishing the Road Collision Facts every two years and reviewing the content of the Rules of the Road. It will also analyse hospital discharge records to 'quantify the number of road users hospitalised following road traffic collision' and the number sustaining serious injuries.
Agriland
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Agriland
RSA ‘considering' driving test for working vehicles
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has said that it is considering the indroduction of a mandatory training programme, and a driving test for new category W only learner permit applicants. According to the RSA, category W vehicles are work vehicles and tractors with a maximum design speed of 40 km/h, that are constructed primarily for work other than for the carriage of goods or burdens by road. An RSA spokesperson told Agriland: 'This has been considered and it has been decided that it will become part of a review of the learning to drive curriculum. 'This work will be ongoing as part of phase 2 of the Road Safety Strategy, which is due to be launched shortly, and runs from 2025 to 2027,' the spokesperson added. RSA Separately, the RSA said it has witnessed early progress under an action plan it implemented to reduce driving test wait periods. The RSA announced the comprehensive action plan – which had a target of slashing wait times by over half – last month. In early April, average wait times were 27 weeks. As of May 31, under the new action plan, these wait times were reduced to 20.6 weeks. The RSA is targeting a 10-week wait period by September. RSA chief operations officer, Brendan Walsh said: 'While there is still a considerable journey ahead to get to the 10 weeks' SLA (service level agreement) by September, we are encouraged by the early indicators of progress.' Walsh added that over 700 tests were scheduled over the June Bank Holiday in a bid to stay on target. According to the RSA, there is currently a backlog of 100,000 applicants waiting to be tested. The RSA has implemented several measures to facilitate extra testing: Accelerated training of new testers through the use of additional training facilities; Prolonged testing hours, which include overtime during weekdays, as well as Saturdays and bank holidays – with tests running from 07:25a.m to 7:00p.m; Prioritising areas of greatest demand when issuing invitations to test in order to create a more efficient slot allocation system. On top of this, additional driving test centres will open in areas of high demand, bringing the national total to 60 centres. The number of driving tests conducted annually has steadily increased year-on-year, reflecting growing demand – from 157,183 in 2021, rising to 180,696 in 2022, 212,525 in 2023, and reaching 253,850 last year.
Irish Post
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Post
New speed camera goes live in Co. Carlow tomorrow
A NEWLY installed speed camera on a busy road in Co. Carlow will go live tomorrow. The static speed camera has been installed on the N80 and will be operational from midday. From that point anyone caught speeding at the site will receive a fixed charge notice (FCN) consisting of a €160 fine accompanied by three penalty points. The Carlow camera adds to new static safety cameras already in operation on the N17 in Mayo, N59 in Galway, N13 in Donegal, N69 in Limerick, R772 in Wexford and the N22 in Cork. First introduced in the Dublin Port Tunnel and on the M7, five average safety cameras are also now in place across Ireland, with three further devices installed on the N3 in Cavan, N5 in Mayo and N2 in Meath. There are also 58 mobile safety cameras operational across 1,500 locations across the country as well as hand held safety cameras which are operated by Gardaí. 'Static safety cameras have been proven internationally to reduce speeding,' Gardai said in a statement as the Carlow device is due to go live. 'All roads nationally were assessed by collision severity and occurrence (including where excessive speed was a factor in the outcome), to determine the road sections in which safety cameras have the best opportunity to prevent future death and serious injury to road users,' they explained of the positioning of their existing cameras. 'The locations were selected based on fatal and serious injury collision data from the last seven years and speed data, as well as feedback from stakeholders,' they added. 'An Garda Síochána is committed to reducing road deaths by working with partners as per the Government's Road Safety Strategy.' More than 6000 FCNs were issued in Ireland from January to April this year. In total 6073 were issued for static and average speed cameras across the country during that period. Some 2385 of those were issued via the safety speed camera on the N17 in Mayo. A further 1581 FCNs were issued through the safety speed camera on the N13 in Donegal. See More: Carlow, Ireland, Speed Camera
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Speed limits reduced across Irish roads as part of plan to reduce deaths
Speed limits are being reduced on hundreds of rural roads in the Republic of Ireland as part of a Government plan to tackle the number of road deaths. Thousands of new road speed signs show that limits will decrease from 80km/h (50mph) to 60km/h (37mph) and will apply from Friday. The move is targeted at rural and local roads which serve local travel and connect rural communities, the Department of Transport said. From today, 7 February 2025, speed limits on many rural local roads have been reduced from 80km/h to 60km/ new 'Rural Speed Limit' sign means you must drive at 60km/h or more, visit #RoadSafety — RSA Ireland (@RSAIreland) February 7, 2025 These roads are designated with an 'L' followed by a number, or do not have a number. Reducing speed limits is part of the Government's Road Safety Strategy and is part of a range of measures intended to reduce fatalities and protect road users. Friday's change is the first phase of a nationwide speed limit overhaul which will see further reductions introduced. Later in the year, the speed limit in urban cores, which include built-up areas as well as housing estates and town centres, will be reduced from 50km/h (31mph) to 30km/h (18.6mph). The speed limit on national secondary roads will also be reduced from 100km/h (62mph) to 80km/h (50mph). Local authorities have received grant funding from the Department of Transport to purchase and install poles and signs to display the new speed limit on the relevant roads. The 'rural speed limit sign', which is used as an alternative to numeric speed limit signs on specific single lane rural roads, will now mean that a maximum 60km/h limit is in force. The Department of Transport said it has been working closely with the Irish police (An Garda Siochana), along with other stakeholders, to ensure that the 60km/h limit is enforced. From the 7th of February, speed limits on many rural local roads will be reduced from 80km/h to 60km/h Going slower significantly reduces the risk of death in a — An Roinn Iompair – Department of Transport (@Dept_Transport) February 4, 2025 Research by the Road Safety Authority has shown that seven in every 10 fatal traffic collisions happen on rural roads with a speed limit of 80km/h or higher. It also show that speed is a contributory factor in a third of fatal collisions and that reducing speed significantly reduces road deaths. Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien said: 'Today's speed limit reduction will save lives, because driving slower saves lives. 'Driving at a lower speed means that if you get into a collision, either as a driver or a vulnerable road user, death or serious injury is a significantly less likely outcome. It also means you are less likely to be involved in a collision at all. 'Death and serious injuries on our roads are not inevitable, they are preventable through tangible, sensible measures. 'This Government is taking action to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries.' Minister of State at the Department of Transport Sean Canney said: 'Today's speed limit change is an outcome of many years of consultation, deliberation and engagement across the system, most notably from the evidence base of the 2023 Speed Limit Review and close collaboration with local authorities who are implementing this reduction. 'This welcome change will give us all safer roads. 'Systemic changes like today's speed limit reduction and road safety education – along with enforcement – have helped us significantly bring down road deaths, but in recent years this trend has worryingly reversed. 'Together we can make our roads safer, by observing the speed limit, driving safely and looking out for one another on rural local roads.'
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Speed limits reduced across Irish roads as part of plan to reduce deaths
Speed limits are being reduced on hundreds of rural roads in the Republic of Ireland as part of a Government plan to tackle the number of road deaths. Thousands of new road speed signs show that limits will decrease from 80km/h (50mph) to 60km/h (37mph) and will apply from Friday. The move is targeted at rural and local roads which serve local travel and connect rural communities, the Department of Transport said. From today, 7 February 2025, speed limits on many rural local roads have been reduced from 80km/h to 60km/ new 'Rural Speed Limit' sign means you must drive at 60km/h or more, visit #RoadSafety — RSA Ireland (@RSAIreland) February 7, 2025 These roads are designated with an 'L' followed by a number, or do not have a number. Reducing speed limits is part of the Government's Road Safety Strategy and is part of a range of measures intended to reduce fatalities and protect road users. Friday's change is the first phase of a nationwide speed limit overhaul which will see further reductions introduced. Later in the year, the speed limit in urban cores, which include built-up areas as well as housing estates and town centres, will be reduced from 50km/h (31mph) to 30km/h (18.6mph). The speed limit on national secondary roads will also be reduced from 100km/h (62mph) to 80km/h (50mph). Local authorities have received grant funding from the Department of Transport to purchase and install poles and signs to display the new speed limit on the relevant roads. The 'rural speed limit sign', which is used as an alternative to numeric speed limit signs on specific single lane rural roads, will now mean that a maximum 60km/h limit is in force. The Department of Transport said it has been working closely with the Irish police (An Garda Siochana), along with other stakeholders, to ensure that the 60km/h limit is enforced. From the 7th of February, speed limits on many rural local roads will be reduced from 80km/h to 60km/h Going slower significantly reduces the risk of death in a — An Roinn Iompair – Department of Transport (@Dept_Transport) February 4, 2025 Research by the Road Safety Authority has shown that seven in every 10 fatal traffic collisions happen on rural roads with a speed limit of 80km/h or higher. It also show that speed is a contributory factor in a third of fatal collisions and that reducing speed significantly reduces road deaths. Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien said: 'Today's speed limit reduction will save lives, because driving slower saves lives. 'Driving at a lower speed means that if you get into a collision, either as a driver or a vulnerable road user, death or serious injury is a significantly less likely outcome. It also means you are less likely to be involved in a collision at all. 'Death and serious injuries on our roads are not inevitable, they are preventable through tangible, sensible measures. 'This Government is taking action to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries.' Minister of State at the Department of Transport Sean Canney said: 'Today's speed limit change is an outcome of many years of consultation, deliberation and engagement across the system, most notably from the evidence base of the 2023 Speed Limit Review and close collaboration with local authorities who are implementing this reduction. 'This welcome change will give us all safer roads. 'Systemic changes like today's speed limit reduction and road safety education – along with enforcement – have helped us significantly bring down road deaths, but in recent years this trend has worryingly reversed. 'Together we can make our roads safer, by observing the speed limit, driving safely and looking out for one another on rural local roads.'
