Road Safety: Statements
Seanad Éireann — 2026-09-30
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Seán Canney (IND), Galway East

I thank Senators for raising this very important topic. I welcome the opportunity to address them today on road safety matters. I assure Senators that road safety is a priority for this Government. Road safety is also a shared priority across the EU and improving road safety remains one of the most important challenges facing transport policy across Europe. In that regard, I was honoured to welcome ministerial colleagues from other member states to Dublin where we discussed road safety matters, including how the deployment of connected and autonomous vehicles and intelligent transport systems could help to improve road safety outcomes across Europe.
Over the course of successive road safety strategies, we have witnessed a significant improvement in road safety. We reduced the number of road deaths from 472 in 1997 to 133 in 2021, the lowest level since records began in 1959. Tragically, more recent trends have been less positive. As of yesterday, 141 lives have been lost on Irish roads this year, which is 13 more than for the same period in 2025. We must do better and see a return to the progress we have seen previously. I will now set out some of the work that has been done this year and that is under way.
While I acknowledge that we have recently seen an increase in the number of deaths on our roads, it is also important to note that Ireland is consistently among the better performers in Europe on road safety, ranking in the five EU countries with the lowest number of deaths by population in recent comparative data.
However, there can be no complacency while lives are still being lost. Ireland's road safety policy is grounded in the safe system approach, which recognises that road safety requires co-ordinated action across speed, roads and roadsides, vehicles, road users, post-collision response, enforcement, education and data. The fifth road safety strategy is our framework for action on road safety. It targets a 50% reduction in deaths and serious injuries this decade. The phase 2 action plan for 2025 to 2027 sets out 12 transformative actions and 77 supporting actions to help us achieve a reduction in road deaths. An example of the key actions being delivered through collaborative working is expanding network safety analysis of the road network to identify high-risk locations, guide investment decisions and prioritise safety interventions, including for the local road network. Other examples are implementing in full all actions in the phase 2 action plan based on the 2023 speed limit review, reviewing and overhauling our learning to drive curriculum and road user safety education more broadly, and developing legislation to facilitate improved road safety outcomes.
I chair the road safety leadership group, which drives delivery of the action plan at ministerial level and brings together the Departments of Transport and justice, An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority, TII, the NTA, the Courts Service, the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, the Health and Safety Authority and local authorities. This extensive and broad membership reflects the number of significant road safety experts working together towards a common goal, which is Vision Zero.
We know that speeding is one of the deadliest behaviours on our roads and we are progressing delivery of the speed limit review. This includes the introduction of a default 30 km/h limit in urban areas, where lower speeds can make the greatest difference for pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users. In addition, new regulations will come into effect from 1 November to tackle the long-standing issue of multiple learner permit renewals and encourage progression through the driver licensing system.
The national safety camera strategy was published in April and it will assist An Garda Síochána to deploy more safety cameras across our road network. It provides a framework for wider deployment of cameras targeting speeding, red-light running and bus lane infringements, with scope to support enforcement of other offences in future. The camera enforcement oversight group, chaired by the CEO of the National Transport Authority, is responsible for delivering the strategy. The group continues to meet and will report to the road safety leadership group on its progress in due course. We are also investing in behaviour change. I directed the RSA to ring-fence €18 million this year for road safety awareness, education and campaigns aimed at all road users, including vulnerable road users.
I was pleased to bring the National Vehicle and Driver File, Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2026 before the Dail on 17 September and I look forward to engaging with Senators as it makes its way through the legislative process. The Bill is about making sure that the law supporting road safety, vehicle compliance, enforcement and public administration is modern, clear and fit for purpose. The policy rationale in terms of road safety is straightforward. Local authorities must be able to receive traffic collision data from An Garda Síochána or the Road Safety Authority for the purposes of identifying and addressing safety risks of public roads within their functional area. This will allow for the targeting of maintenance or construction of public roads, and the appropriate allocation of resources.
The Bill also allows a jury to consider the lesser charge of careless driving where a defendant is acquitted of dangerous driving. This arises from a recommendation in Mr. Justice Haughton’s report into the death of Shane O'Farrell. In addition, further legislation is being developed to advance graduated penalty points and camera enforcement of mobile phone and seatbelt offences.
The choice to engage in criminal behaviour, dangerous driving and excess speed on our roads leads inevitably to death, destruction and despair. The tragedy on the M9 brings home the stark reality of these behaviours and the unspeakable devastation it brings to innocent victims and to the families left behind. In August, I met with senior road safety leaders from the Road Safety Authority, An Garda Síochána and Transport Infrastructure Ireland as well as officials from my Department and the Department of justice to explore how we can improve safety on our motorways. The Government is committed to ensuring that our gardaí have the resources, equipment, training and legislation they need to effectively police this type of criminal behaviour.
It is abhorrent that anybody would engage in such reckless behaviour as driving the wrong way down a motorway for any reason. It is particularly concerning if young people are engaging in this behaviour to produce videos for social media. The RSA is currently running a social media campaign that provides advice on what to do if you encounter a vehicle travelling in the wrong direction on a motorway or if you find yourself driving the wrong way on a motorway. In addition, the RSA has also published an information leaflet outlining emergency advice on what to do when encountering a vehicle travelling in the wrong direction. Transport Infrastructure Ireland is also examining a range of measures to mitigate the risk from such behaviour. This is a complex issue, which has many causes and will not be easily solved. It is important that we continue to work together and look at every practical measure available to make our motorways as safe as possible for all road users.
On 1 April, the Road Traffic (Control of Certain Vehicles) Regulations 2026, known as Grace's Law in memory of Grace Lynch, were signed into law. The regulations implement an explicit ban on scrambler use in any public place and strengthen existing provisions and powers of enforcement by An Garda Síochána. I signed further regulations on 21 July to double the charges applying to vehicles seized under section 41 of the Road Traffic Act 1994, as amended. These regulations came into operation on 14 August. There is ongoing engagement between An Garda Síochána and my Department in this area to ensure that we continue to deliver effective enforcement in relation to scramblers.
Additionally, the Government has introduced new regulations in relation to e-scooters. This reflects ongoing concerns around road safety and the recent significant rise in serious injuries, particularly among children. Regulations to make helmets and high-visibility clothing mandatory for e-scooter users came into effect on 4 September 2026 and fees for detention and storage of seized e-scooters will be doubled, which will take effect from 2 October. On 22 September, I signed new regulations to raise the age limit for e-scooter users from 16 to 18. This will also come into effect from 2 October 2026. These are necessary and proportionate road safety measures and they are designed to address the number of serious injuries and fatalities among young e-scooter users. Further measures will be introduced in the coming weeks, including increasing fixed charge notices to €100 for e-scooter offences and the introduction of a new fixed charge notice offence of €100 for not wearing a helmet or high visibility clothing.
Enforcement is a key aspect of ensuring greater safety on our roads. An Garda Síochána is responsible for enforcing road traffic legislation and continues to prioritise road safety. In addition, since May 2024, with powers and provisions introduced by the Road Traffic Act 2024, An Garda Síochána now conducts mandatory drug testing at the scene of serious collisions. Since November 2023, the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland has been providing insurance details to An Garda Síochána. Details for 3 million vehicles and 5 million drivers are provided daily to identify vehicles being driven without insurance.
My focus as Minister, the focus of my Department and the focus of all of the road safety stakeholders that we work with, is on the delivery of the phase 2 action plan. This plan was developed by experts, based on Irish experience while considering best practice in other countries, and our focus is on the delivery of these agreed actions. I look forward to hearing the contributions of Senators on this very important topic.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-09-30/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-10-05T01:00:59+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-30