Latest News & Announcements

• Schools encouraged to develop a road safety plan
• Drivers urged to watch out for children as schools return
• 170 schools receive funding for ‘Safe Routes to School’

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has published new guidelines for schools aimed at helping them improve road safety around their schools. The publication comes as pupils return to school for the start of the new academic year.

The new guidelines provide information and tools to assist schools develop and implement a road safety action plan, that would reduce the risk of any incidents occurring during the commute to and from school.

Together with An Garda Síochána, the RSA are also appealing to parents, guardians and teachers to ensure road safety is on the back to school checklist. Drivers are being reminded that there will be a significant increase in school-going traffic in the coming days. They should also expect to see a rise in the number of children using ‘active modes’ of transport such as cycling, walking or scooting to get to school.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Ms. Hildegarde Naughton said: “I would encourage schools to read the new guidelines from the RSA and develop safety action plans to improve safety around their schools. For example, one of the measures outlined in the guidelines is the Safe Routes to School programme which I launched earlier this year. As we invest almost €1 million per day in walking and cycling projects this year, the Safe Routes to School programme aims to create safer walking and cycling routes, to alleviate congestion at the school gates and increase the number of children walking, cycling, or scooting to school. This is being achieved by providing purpose-built walking and cycling facilities and in certain cases a complete reworking of a school’s entrance. Earlier this summer, 170 schools were notified that they are part of the first round of funding for the new Safe Routes to School programme. Funding for the rolling programme will be provided from the €1.8 billion for walking and cycling infrastructure committed under the programme for government.”

Speaking at the launch of this year’s back-to-school campaign and publication of the RSA’s new guidelines for improving road safety around schools, Ms. Liz O’Donnell, Chairperson, Road Safety Authority said: “Each school faces its own unique road safety issues depending on whether it is an urban or rural school, particularly during school opening and closing times. The mix of road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, vehicles and other road-using public, can lead to an unsafe environment. The RSA’s new guidelines, which have been developed in collaboration with government departments and agencies, will help school management to develop and implement a road safety action plan to reduce the risk of injuries while students and staff are travelling to and from school. It gives valuable advice on identifying the areas of concern around your school environment. It offers suggestions on how best to address these issues, provides examples and tells you where you can get help.”

Assistant Commissioner, Paula Hilman, Roads Policing and Community Engagement, An Garda Síochána commented: “We always urge road users to behave responsibly but extra vigilance is required as children return to school. There will be increased traffic volumes on the roads with parents dropping their children at school and we remind parents not to create a hazard by double parking or parking on yellow lines which is an offence and causes potentially dangerous obstructions around the school gate. It’s also vital that motorists reduce their speed near schools and ensure they give plenty of space when overtaking any children who might be cycling or walking to school. Drivers must also obey the instructions of school wardens as they are there to protect children when crossing the road.”

The RSA’s new ‘Guidelines for improving road safety around your school’ were developed with input from the Department of Education and Skills, An Garda Síochána, Green-Schools / An Taisce, the City and County Managers Association, Local Authority Road Safety Officers, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the National Transport Authority.

The RSA’s new guidelines for ‘Improving Road Safety Around Schools’ are available here.

To date in 2021, a total of 95 people have died on Irish roads, 3 more than the same period in 2020.

• Road users urged to take greater care on road as deaths to date in 2021 exceed 2020
• Hazardous road conditions likely as Met Eireann issues weather warnings for heavy rainfall and localised flooding

Following the deaths of six road users in the last 24 hours the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána are issuing an urgent appeal to all road users to take greater care on the roads.

“It’s been a dark 24 hours on Irish roads which has seen an appalling loss of life” said Mr Sam Waide, CEO, Road Safety Authority, “and our thoughts are with the families of those who have been killed. These deaths should serve to remind us that everyone is at risk when using the roads. We are at risk at any time of the day or week. Life is fragile and using the roads is one of the most dangerous things we do each day, we must never forget this.”

“I would appeal to road users to slow down, drive at the right speed for the conditions, and watch out for vulnerable road users. Don’t drive when impaired through drink, drugs or fatigue and always wear a seatbelt and ensure passengers are wearing theirs too, no matter how short the trip. This advice is all the more important given the fact that Met Eireann has issued weather warnings for heavy rainfall and possible localised flooding for today and this weekend.”

Assistant Commissioner, Paula Hilman, Roads Policing and Community Engagement, An Garda Síochána said “Not only has it been a horrific 24 hours on the roads, we are also seeing an increase in road deaths this year compared to the same period last year. Road tragedies affect all parts of the country. Every fatal or serious injury collision has a devastating impact on family, friends and communities. As we think of and send our sympathies to the families and friends of those who have been killed on our roads, I would ask every road user to play their part to make our roads safer and to think about their safety, and that of other road users.”

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton said, “I wish to echo the advice of both the RSA and An Garda Síochána and appeal to all road users to take great care on the road. They are much busier now that the country has reopened and with many people travelling around the country on staycation. While the Government and public agencies have a responsibility to ensure the roads are made safer, as individuals we must play our part too. Road Safety remains a priority of this Government, and we will soon launch a new government road safety strategy which will have at its heart the elimination of all road deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 2050.”

“I wish to also extend my deepest sympathies not only to those who have been killed in the tragic incidents that have occurred on the road in the past 24 hours but to all those who have been killed on the road to date in 2021.”

A total of 92 people have died in fatal road traffic crashes to date in 2021. Three more people have been killed on the road this year compared to the same period last year.