Call for Ireland to implement proven European road-safety measures

Frustration at Ireland's failure to systematically adopt proven road-safety measures used across Europe has been expressed by councillor Marie Casserly who is calling for urgent political leadership, accountability and evidence-based investment. Following the decision to stand down the Road Safety Authority's proposed €1.5 million breathalyser scheme for pubs and hotels, Cllr Casserly is seeking a comprehensive review of road-safety spending and enforcement. 'I am genuinely frustrated that we continue to develop new initiatives without systematically examining what works elsewhere in Europe and implementing those measures here. 'We should not have to reinvent the wheel. Other countries are demonstrating what can be achieved through effective enforcement, safer road design, appropriate speed limits and technology. The problem is not a lack of evidence. It is a lack of political will to turn that evidence into action.' Cllr Casserly pointed to international examples of road-safety progress saying, 'Helsinki went an entire year without a traffic fatality, with its last fatal collision occurring in July 2024. Lower speed limits, safer street design and traffic-calming measures have contributed to making its roads safer. 'Sweden's Vision Zero approach combines safer road design, speed cameras and median barriers to reduce the risk of fatal collisions. Norway has reduced annual road deaths dramatically from the levels recorded in the 1970s through decades of sustained investment in road safety. 'These countries have not relied on advertising alone. They have combined awareness campaigns with enforcement, technology, safer infrastructure and long-term political commitment. 'Ireland must examine what works in these countries and implement appropriate measures without unnecessary delay.' Cllr Casserly also queried the accountability in relation to public spending, commenting, 'Approximately €44 million has been spent on road-safety advertising over five years, while the RSA's proposed €1.5 million breathalyser scheme has now been stood down. 'I want to know how much the original trial and subsequent deployments actually cost, what evidence supported the proposed longer-term investment, and who is responsible for evaluating the outcomes. 'I am not suggesting that advertising has no role. Public awareness matters, but it must form part of a wider strategy that includes enforcement, technology and safer roads. 'How many additional roads-policing hours or enforcement operations could have been funded with this money? We need to know whether public spending is delivering results and whether alternative investments could save more lives. 'Every significant initiative should have clear objectives and an independent evaluation. If something is not delivering, we must be prepared to change direction.' Cllr Casserly said the Government, Department of Transport, RSA and An Garda Síochána must work together to implement proven measures saying, 'We cannot continue to talk about Vision Zero while failing to act with sufficient urgency. 'The Department of Transport should provide a published review of European best practice, a clear timetable for implementing appropriate measures in Ireland, and transparent reporting on the effectiveness of road-safety spending. 'Every road death is a devastating loss for a family and a community. We owe it to those families to ensure that policy is driven by evidence and that public money is spent responsibly. 'We do not need another round of announcements. We need action, accountability and the political will to save lives.' Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.