Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As recently as five years ago, Ireland was being celebrated within the EU for road safety following a reduction in fatalities of over 40% yet this week Ireland's road death toll hit 100 people, meaning the overall number is now 14% higher than last year and we are just over halfway through the year. The year 2024 is on course to prove the most lethal for traffic fatalities in 15 years.

My colleague here is from Waterford. A 70-year-old lady there, on Tuesday, was in collision with a lorry. It is happening in every constituency.

We need enforcement. Given the rise in fatal road traffic collisions, the force must continue to adapt its policing initiatives to increase safety on Irish roads. I acknowledge that a great deal of progress has been made via April's Road Traffic Act passing into law. This law saw an increased focus on Garda enforcement, with every uniformed officer now spending 30 minutes per shift on visible roads policing.

However, in my constituency alone, in the last week there was a three car accident at Bellurgan petrol station and an accident just before exit 17 northbound where a car and caravan hit each other causing significant damage. This is causing a lot of tragedy in local communities.

The three main challenges are speeding and drink and drug driving. This is a massive challenge of our time. Since 2019, people aged between 16 and 25 have represented 20% of all road deaths despite making up only 12% of the population. This trend is sadly continuing in 2024.

The reasons behind problematic behaviour in young drivers is quite complex and multifactorial. We must invest in a more evidence-based approach to understanding problematic driver behaviour and provide greater education through public awareness campaigns.

In addition to enforcement and reform of the driving testing regime, we need to invest seriously in infrastructure improvement. Is the RSA budget fit for purpose? Ms O'Donnell of the RSA certainly does not believe so. Ms O'Donnell says we need a lot more investment.

On the provision of crash data to the local authorities, are we giving them the information that they need to help with safety measures?

Driver behaviour needs to be challenged, both by education, engineering, enforcement and sanctions.

Will the Tánaiste liaise with the Minister for Transport to ensure adequate funding is provided to the RSA towards enforcement and towards research and education campaigns to reduce dangerous driving? For example, in 2006, the random checkpoints came in and it put the fear of God into everybody.

It worked. We need to put more initiatives in place. Every life lost on the roads is a tragedy.

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