Is the Road Safety Authority’s goal of no road-related deaths or serious injuries by 2050 really achievable?

Listen | 23:54
Is the RSA campaign aiming for no road-related deaths or serious injuries by 2050 achievable? Photograph: Robbie Reynolds
Is the RSA campaign aiming for no road-related deaths or serious injuries by 2050 achievable? Photograph: Robbie Reynolds

On Monday, Taoiseach Simon Harris called a meeting the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to discuss the rising number of deaths on Irish roads.

Mr Harris said road safety was a “top priority” and announced actions to crackdown on careless and dangerous driving and additional RSA funding.

So far this year, sixty-three people have died in road accidents across the country, an increase of 14 on the same period last year.

And while the RSA has welcomed the new 30 minute mandatory road safety policing directive, questions remain as to why road-related deaths are going in the wrong direction.

READ MORE

Have Irish attitudes towards road safety and drink driving changed in recent years?

And, is the RSA campaign aiming for no road-related deaths or serious injuries by 2050 actually achievable?

Today, on In the News; Road deaths are on the rise – what will it take to make Irish roads safer?

Irish Times head of audience David Labanyi and reporter Mark Hilliard join the podcast to discuss the RSA’s legacy and the steps needed to make Irish roads safer.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak.

Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

Sorcha Pollak

Sorcha Pollak

Sorcha Pollak is an Irish Times reporter specialising in immigration issues and cohost of the In the News podcast