Chapter 17. Ireland

Crashes and casualties

The number of road fatalities peaked in 1972 with 640 deaths. Since crash data was first recorded road deaths reached their lowest level in 2012 with 162 fatalities and the second lowest level was seen in 2015 with 166 fatalities. Between 2000 and 2012, the number of road deaths declined by more than 60%. There were increases in 2013 (16%) and 2014 (3%) in the number of road fatalities but this appears to have been arrested in 2015. It will take another couple of years of data to be able to ascertain if this was a statistical fluctuation in the numbers.

The Road Safety Authority was established in 2006 with the remit to provide a co‐ordinated approach to improving Ireland’s road safety and thus saving lives. The decrease seen over this time would have been influenced by road safety initiatives adopted as part of a strategic approach to road safety. The Road Safety Authority is responsible for the co-ordination and oversight of the Government Road Safety Strategy.

The strategic approach to road safety was first adopted in 1998 with the introduction of the first Road Safety Strategy (1998–2002). The RSA are currently implementing the fourth Government Road Safety Strategy (2013–20). The main changes in policies and legislation in the past 10 years that have influenced road safety include the following.

Enforcement and legislative changes:

• Introduction of the penalty points system for speeding offences in November 2002.

• Expansion in August 2012 and August 2014 of the range of road safety-related offences covered by penalty points and administrative fines.

• Operation of mandatory alcohol testing checkpoints introduced in July 2006.

• Lowering the maximum authorised blood alcohol content (BAC) level from 0.8 g/l to 0.5 g/l (0.2 g/l for young drivers and professional drivers) in 2010.

• Operation of the safety camera network to produce more than 7 000 hours of enforcement per month beginning in November 2010.

• Targeted operations of traffic law enforcement with a particular emphasis on safety offences including speeding, impaired driving, restraint/helmet misuse, mobile phone use and defective vehicles.

Media and communication campaigns:

• Implementation of mass media campaigns to target the main causal factors for crashes, deaths and serious injuries for all road users, but in particular the high risk groups based on research evidence.

• Integrating social media messaging with mass media campaigns to better target specific messages to the younger age groups.

• Integrating mass media campaigns to complement policing plans of An Garda Síochána and other enforcement agencies.

Education initiatives:

• Implementation of educational interventions aimed at the high risk 17-24 year old age group (e.g. “He drives she dies” campaign) and community based interventions for older road users (Mobility Matters).

• Implementation of a suite of schools-based initiatives to teach children at primary and secondary schools about road safety through programmes such as “Be Safe” and “Streetwise”.

• Introduction of a Nationwide Road Safety Education Service. A team of road safety educators who travel to schools, colleges, communities, and places of work, to deliver established and effective programmes to everyone. These programmes tackle all elements of road safety and the practicing of safe road behaviour in general.

• The RSA “Check it Fits” team help parents and guardians to correctly fit their child car seats. Trained experts deliver the service all over Ireland on a full-time basis which is fast, convenient and free of charge.

• Implementation of specific educational measures aimed at vulnerable road users, such as use of high visibility material for pedestrians, cyclists and motor cyclists; awareness of intoxicated pedestrians; use of personal protection equipment for cyclists and motorcyclists; awareness of blind spots on heavy good vehicles and care for younger and older people

Driver education:

• Introduction of novice plates for learners and newly qualified drivers in 2014 as part of Ireland’s Graduated Driver Licensing programme.

• Regulation of professional driver training for novice drivers

• Introduction of compulsory lessons for learner car drivers known as Essential Driver Training (EDT) which is part of the Graduated Driver Licensing system (GDL). Car learners must complete 12 mandatory lessons before attempting their practical driving test.

• Introduction of compulsory lessons for new learner motorcyclists known as Initial Basic Training (IBT) which is part of the Graduated Driver Licensing system (GDL). New motorcyclists must complete IBT which is a modular based training programme covering theory and practical off and on-road riding, before being permitted to ride unaccompanied on a public road and taking their practical driving test.

• Introduction of compulsory periodic refresher training for professional bus and truck drivers (Drivers CPC).

Vehicle standards:

• Introduction of a national commercial vehicle testing system forcing greater compliance with the legal obligation to have commercial vehicles tested annually and improving quality and consistency of the test.

• Investment in commercial vehicle and driver enforcement, with a 400% increase in the roadworthiness inspections, with 8% of the fleet checked at the roadside in 2015; a doubling of driver’s hours and tachograph enforcement inspections at the roadside and operator premises.

• Enhancement of commercial vehicle operator vehicle safety obligations through the introduction of explicit maintenance obligations for commercial vehicle operators and powers of inspection.

Rates

Since 2000, the risk has been more than halved for the rate indicators of deaths per 100 000 inhabitants and deaths per 10 000 registered vehicles. In 2014, the death rate per 100 000 inhabitants was 4.2 and the death rate per 10 000 registered vehicles was 0.8.

Figure 17.1. Road Safety, Traffic and GDP Trends index 1990 = 100

Source: World Bank for Gross Domestic Product (GDP; constant prices).

Road safety targets

The main targets are:

• a reduction of road crash fatalities on Irish roads to 25 per million population or less by 2020

• a provisional target for the reduction of serious injuries by 30% from 472 in 2011 to 330 or fewer by 2020, or 61 per million inhabitants.

Monitoring targets

In order to meet the target of 25 per million inhabitants, or about 124 deaths by 2020, a 25% decline in fatalities between 2015 and 2020 is required, equivalent to an average annual 5.5% reduction.

The broad monitoring arrangements that were instrumental in the success of the previous strategy will be maintained. Annual reviews of the strategy involving the lead departments and agencies are ongoing. Progress in implementing the strategy is reported in the context of the Road Safety Strategy Report to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. This report is informed by consultation with the major stakeholders. A mid-term evaluation of the strategy is being implemented in the latter half of 2016, and this will provide an opportunity to recalibrate targets and to implement adjustments to the education, engineering and enforcement measures as required.

Figure 17.6. Trends in road fatalities towards national target

Penalty point system

• From 1 August 2014, penalty points for speeding, holding a mobile phone while driving and not wearing a seat belt or not using child restraints increased from two points to three. For those who do not pay the fixed charge and are subsequently convicted in court, the points will increase from four to five.

• A new Fixed Charge Notice (FCN) offence for motorists who drive with defective or worn tyres on their vehicle was introduced in April 2016. Although driving a vehicle with defective or worn tyres is already an offence, there will now be a fixed charge (or fine) of EUR 80, with two penalty points endorsed, or four penalty points following conviction in court.

Novice drivers

• Under the terms of the 2014 Act, the new category of novice driver came into effect from 1 August 2014. Those drivers who receive their first full licence will be considered as novice drivers for their first two years. Novices will be required to display an N-plate during that time. Under the terms of the Act, novices will face disqualification from driving for six months if they reach seven penalty points, as opposed to 12 for those with a full licence.

• Eliminating odometer fraud is important for consumer protection and road safety and a verification process has been introduced at NCT to support the accuracy of the data.

Cyclists

• From July 2015 new fixed charge notices came into effect to promote safe cycling practices. The charge is in place for breaking a red light, failure to have a front lamp lit during lighting-up hours and cycling without reasonable consideration.

Towing of trailers

• Changes to driver licence legislation now require all drivers to be qualified in the correct category of driving licence before they are permitted to tow trailers of particular weight classes.

Speed management

• The Department of Transport Tourism & Sport is actively encouraging local authorities to introduce 30km/h zones in residential areas and has engaged in a formal process with Local Authorities to encourage the reduction of the speed limit to this threshold in residential areas.

• Work on setting and managing speed limits has been conducted and a revised set of guidelines were issued in 2015. These guidelines include the introduction and use of new rural speed limit signs and a comprehensive review and update of all speed limits in administrative areas.

• A system called MapRoad, where data on speed limit signage is being collected in the field and centrally stored in a Roads Management System, is being compiled and the system will progress to provide quantitative and qualitative analysis of speed limit detail and allow roads authorities to greater scrutinise the appropriateness and validity of speed limits on Irish roads.

Education and awareness

The RSA has developed a number of new TV campaigns to target some of the main killer behaviours. Each campaign has been based on the latest research & evidence available on the relevant topic.

• Tyre safety – as a result of the recent research which found that in 8% of fatal collisions the condition of tyres were a contributory factor, a television advert was launched in April 2016 focusing on the potential outcome of driving on poorly maintained tyres.

• Mobile Phone Distraction – based on the premise that it only takes a split second looking at your phone to cause a serious crash with devastating consequences. The RSA was awarded Gold at the World Advertising Awards the ‘Epicas’ in November for this advert called “Anatomy of a split second” in the “Public Interest – Health and Safety” category.

• Vulnerable road users: There was a suite of television, radio and social media campaigns aimed at vulnerable road users such as cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians aired throughout 2015 and into 2016. This was prompted by the increases seen in 2013 and 2014 in vulnerable road user fatalities.

• Driver Fatigue: An information based campaign, encouraging drivers to “Stop, Sip, Sleep” and obey the signs of fatigue when driving.

• Driving for work: The RSA hosted an ETSC PIN talk on 2nd July 2015 about driving for work. There were four driving-for-work seminars given in the latter half of 2015. Please visit the webpage for driving for work seminars.

• RSA International Conference: This takes place each year in April. The 2016 conference, entitled “iSafer”, is being held in conjunction with the ETSC and is a consideration of ISA technology.

All RSA media campaigns are available to view on the RSA campaign webpage.

Emergency pack

• The RSA has reported the results of the public consultation on the proposal that all vehicles be fitted with an emergency pack (first aid kit, torch, high-visibility vest and warning triangle) to the Department of Transport, Tourism, and Sport.

National Car Test (NCT)

• The NCT is a compulsory vehicle inspection programme in Ireland. The primary aim of this programme is to improve road safety and enhance environmental protection by reducing harmful vehicle emissions. In December 2014, the NCT came within the Fixed Charge System. Since then a huge improvement in compliance has been realised.

Vehicle Standards

• The RSA has, in recent years, developed numerous recommendations and legislative amendments relating to the vehicle standards that are being applied in Ireland. Recent changes in regulations include:

  • Extension of the scope of compulsory roadworthiness testing to include motor caravans.

  • Mandating the fitment of additional mirrors on heavy goods vehicles to improve the diver’s view of the blind spots surrounding their vehicles to provide additional protection to vulnerable road users.

  • The implementation of a suite of revised standards for agricultural vehicles to ensure the regulatory regime reflects the developments in agricultural vehicle technology and facilitates the compliance with recognised standards in of key safety critical areas, i.e. braking, suspension systems, tyres and lighting as well as the weights for which the vehicles are designed.

  • Mandating the fitment of spray suppression devices to HGV’s in advance of the mandatory type approval date.