Cork Road Safety Working Together Group Local Road Safety Plan
2. Forward and Vision
Sam Waide, CEO, Road Safety Authority
Ireland has made significant progress over the lifetime of previous road safety strategies. Since the launch of the first ever Road Safety Strategy in 1998, road deaths have declined by almost 70%. None of that progress could have been possible without our key stakeholders working together in a coordinated,
strategic way.
This, Ireland’s fifth Road Safety Strategy, will adopt a transformational and partnership-based approach to road safety in Ireland to achieve a 50% reduction in deaths and serious injuries by 2030. Road safety is a whole-of-government issue and needs a whole-of-government response. We have seen how governments over the years have enacted measures that have made our roads safer from the mandatory wearing of seat belts, the lowering of drink-driving limits, the introduction of penalties for dangerous behaviors, safer infrastructure and targeted enforcement. These measures have saved lives. The 2020 Program for Government commits to achieving ‘Vision Zero’ – i.e. no deaths or serious injuries on the roads – which we will achieve by 2050. This commitment must be matched by action, enabling funding, accountability and good governance. Critically, we need even greater partnership and collaboration to achieve the ambitious target of Vision Zero. Vision Zero in road safety is not just a catchphrase. It is a serious commitment to end all deaths and serious injuries on our roads. Vision Zero will be delivered through embedding the Safe System approach into our national road safety policy and practice. The Safe System approach recognises that while road safety education and training can reduce the number of road collisions, human error cannot be eliminated. It aims to reduce the likelihood of a collision occurring and, if one does occur, to ensure that the road users involved will not be killed or seriously injured. The seven areas of intervention of our Safe System approach are:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Safe roads and roadsides
Safe speeds Safe vehicles Safe road use
Post-crash response
Safe and healthy modes of travel
Safe work-related road use
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