Changes to driving test could stop road deaths 'disaster', says RSA chair

Some 35% of deaths on the roads this year have involved people aged between 3 and 25, while half of deaths have been aged 35 or under.

The chair of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has said that average speed cameras, major changes to the driving test, and investment from Government are needed to prevent the continued rise in road deaths.

Four people lost their lives in three separate collisions on Irish roads this week, bringing the number of fatalities to 165 as of Wednesday morning — higher than the overall total road deaths for 2022.

The situation has been branded a "disaster" by Liz O'Donnell, the chair of the RSA.

On Tuesday, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said he wanted to introduce static speed cameras and the wider use of average speed cameras across Irish roads.

Average speed cameras are in place in a number of other European countries, Ms O'Donnell said, adding that they, along with an increased visibility programme, have worked.

In Ireland, there are currently 650 dedicated road policing gardaí — down from a high of 1,100 in previous years.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said recently that the country needed "vigilant, constant policing" in order to prevent further deaths.

RSA chairperson Liz O’Donnell. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

Speaking on RTÉ radio's Today with Claire Byrne, Ms O'Donnell said: "That's only achieved by people on the ground, people at the side of the road, being visible. It's worth saying that 49% of the fatalities have happened at the weekend and at night."

She noted that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is set to attend the next meeting between the RSA and Ms McEntee.

"He and the rest of the Government have to realise — this is going to cost a lot more money. 

Even in the RSA, we're struggling to complete all of the actions we are required to do in our strategy because we lack the resources. 

"The Garda Commissioner will need resources. The GoSafe vans, I think each unit costs between €30,000 and €50,000,

"There has to be an all of Government approach to this disaster."

Winter would be a "dangerous" time on the roads due to bad weather and poor lighting, Ms O'Donnell said.

Some 35% of deaths on the roads this year have involved people aged between 3 and 25, while half of deaths have been aged 35 or under.

Ms O'Donnell said: "We have a serious youth problem. We are targeting them on Tiktok and social media and on podcasts. We are targeting young male drivers, there is a gender issue. The vast majority of people (79%) have been males. That has to be called out."

Driving test

There are concerns over the driving test with the curriculum for the exam having not been reviewed since 1993.

Ms O'Donnell noted: "There's a completely changed road environment now. We see that young drivers are being killed and responsible for many crashes, we need to improve that curriculum.

"But again, we need to be resourced and the gardaí need to be resourced."

Ms O'Donnell said that those who have passed their test and were using N plates were "speeding on rural roads and overtaking people on the motorway."

She said: "It's part of being a young person. People are reckless, the human brain does not mature until they're 25 or 26 so we are particularly focusing on young male drivers.

"There is a serious problem with young people."