Irish Examiner view: Change in the RSA can't come soon enough

As long ago as last April, more than 30 road safety advocacy bodies expressed the opinion that the RSA was no longer fit for purpose and was failing in its core mission. Picture: Dan Linehan

The fact that the Road Safety Authority (RSA) seems set to lose much of its sources of income might appear to be a retrograde step, but it may actually be the correct course of action to try and reduce our spiralling road death statistics.

Currently, the RSA’s €95m budget is solely raised through NCT charges, driving test fees, and licence renewals, but the organisation’s remit has become too broad and lacks focus.

With 114 people having died on our roads so far this year — 14 more than in the same period last year — the tally of tragedy is unacceptable and with some 900 drivers having been caught speeding during the weekend just past, it seems obvious the RSA’s messaging is not hitting home.

A review of the RSA and its activities is due to be completed by the end of this month with a Cabinet decision on changes expected to be ratified by September.

As reported by this newspaper, a major shake-up is likely to see the RSA broken up, with driver and vehicle testing and licencing stripped away, and a smaller authority focusing exclusively on road safety.

The review has also considered the option that road safety responsibilities could be removed from the authority entirely, a radical move that might prove a step too far.

The worry is that the word "safety" in the organisation’s title has not been at the core of its activities, but at least there is now official recognition of the problems at hand and a concerted look at the issues needing addressing, namely engineering, education, and enforcement.

RSA chief executive Sam Waide has already said he is advocating for the organisation having a role in road safety, which may differ from what it currently is, and it seems essential that his thoughts on the matter be listened to.

As long ago as last April, more than 30 road safety advocacy bodies expressed the opinion that the RSA was no longer fit for purpose and was failing in its core mission.

That view, unfortunately, has been validated by the increase in road deaths this year as against last year, which was in itself the worst for fatalities in a decade.

Change cannot come soon enough.

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United in Olympic success

Olympic ideals are based on three core principles — excellence, friendship, and respect. The first of these values stresses the need to strive for improvement, and doing the best you can in sport and life; the second highlights how sport can develop tolerance, and understanding among people; and the third emphasises the necessity to show consideration for yourself, others, and the wider environment.

Amid the rampant commercialism, egotism, and the cut-throat nature of modern life, these ideals are easily lost, and it is easy to see why in an age where winning alone is reason enough to justify the most egregious behaviour.

Sadly, the Olympics have too often fallen victim to those with lesser values than those envisioned by the founders. Those willing to cheat in their fervour to win Olympic glory have too often sullied the original ideals of the Games, as well as bringing shame, opprobrium, and contempt on themselves and their countries.

Although the Paris Games are only half complete, there is a sense this time round that — gender politics aside — for once the sports themselves are winners, along with the athletes who have thus far secured gold, silver, or bronze.

For us here in Ireland, this Olympiad has proven to be our most successful yet — seven medals thus far, three gold and four bronze, with more to come — but it has also highlighted a new and redemptive positivity across our land.

Three of our medallists are from this island, but not the Republic, but they have been cheered home unanimously across religious and political divides. The country, too, is united behind Rhasidat Adeleke, the face of new Ireland — confident, super talented, and inspiring the next generation.

Her qualification for the 400m semi-final was greeted with a huge roar from Irish fans in the Stade de France.

Despite what has been happening recently on our streets and across social media, where a tiny minority are attempting to subvert the norms of society, and to create divisions within previously united communities, the Games have illustrated the togetherness and ever-increasing acceptance of racial integration across 32 counties.

These Olympics have, in direct opposition to those wishing to destabilise our democracy, highlighted the cohesive beauty of our land. Our athletes, too, have underlined the power of sport in bringing us together, united in shared achievement.

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Maduro must go 

The growing evidence that Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro lost last weekend’s election by millions of votes has not tempered his claims of victory and his threat to “pulverise” anyone who disagrees with him.

It is increasingly obvious that Mr Maduro is intent on holding power in the oil-rich but economically devastated South American country, whatever the fallout for its citizens.

A Washington Post review of some 23,000 tally sheets collected by Mr Maduro’s opposition, a sample that represents some 80% of nationwide voting machines, indicated that his rival, Edmundo González Urrutia, received twice the number of votes he did.

It is a conclusion that echoes reviews of independent exit polling, and indicates Maduro’s claim to have won the election is nothing other than a sham.

Unfortunately, Venezuela’s national electoral council is under Maduro’s control and declared him the winner without having released audited results, something which is required by law.

The Atlanta-based Carter Center, which had been invited by the government to observe the election, concluded last week that the election “did not meet international standards of electoral integrity and cannot be considered democratic”.

International pressure is now essential if Maduro is now to be persuaded to negotiate an exit from this mess and to give the Venezuelan people the government they voted for.