Foreword

The fifth Government Road Safety Strategy, covering the period from 2021 to 2030, was published in December 2021. Since the publication of the first such strategy in 1998, we have witnessed a remarkable transformation in road safety in this country. From 472 road deaths in 1997 just prior to the first strategy, the figure was reduced to 134 in 2021. Ireland went from one of the countries with the worst road safety records in Europe to a recognised global leader. We can be rightly proud of this achievement.

Road deaths increased in 2022 and again in 2023. The early months of 2024 continued this worsening trend. However, following coordinated and collective action taken by all road safety partners in mid 2024, the increase in fatalities slowed and stabilised. Deaths are still too high, one death is one too many, but this showed improvements can be made and that progress needs to be sustained. Experience has shown us that dramatic improvements are possible, and within a short period. This Government is committed to driving further such improvements in the coming years.

While we did not see the improvements in road safety that we hoped for during Phase 1 of the current Strategy, a number of significant initiatives were delivered over the past three years. These include the completion the Irish Motor Insurance database, which is helping An Garda Síochána to quickly and efficiently put thousands of uninsured drivers off the road, publication of the Speed Limit Review and implementation of its first phase on rural local roads, and the introduction of mandatory drug testing at the scene of serious collisions, supported by the provision of rapid testing devices to Gardaí. The Road Safety Authority was central to the delivery of many actions in Phase 1, and will continue its important role in Phase 2, in particular in expanding and enhancing road safety education and campaigning. There are more examples of actions delivered successfully during Phase 1, and collectively they lay the foundation for further improvement in the coming years.

In developing this Phase 2 Action Plan for the period from 2025 to end 2027, we have been guided by expert input from stakeholders and a review of the strengths and weaknesses of the Phase 1 plan. We would particularly like to express our sincere gratitude to the members of the Road User Safety Forum for volunteering their time and expertise to contribute to this Action Plan. We look forward to their continued input during Phase 2.

Based on this consultation and analysis, in the coming years our primary focus will be on the delivery of 12 primary actions requiring collaboration across all road safety partners and with the potential for truly transformative impacts. These include, for example, continued investment in safe sustainable transport, rollout of safer default speed limits, the much-expanded use of data sharing, camera-based enforcement and other technology advancements, and the development and delivery of an integrated programme of road safety education across a person’s life. These primary actions are supplemented by 77 supporting actions, many of which will also bring substantial road safety benefits. As with the previous Action Plan, these actions are grouped according to the seven Safe System pillars.

We are writing this foreword in the weeks following the death of roads policing officer Garda Kevin Flatley while on duty. While any death on our roads is a tragedy, it is particularly shocking when a member of An Garda Síochána is killed in the course of their duties. This death is a call to action and we endorse the Garda Commissioner’s call for a road safety reset in this country. We believe that this Action Plan forms the basis for that reset in the coming years.

Government has recently approved the General Scheme of the National Vehicle and Driver File Bill 2025, which includes a number of important road safety related provisions. We will shortly bring forward proposals for a Road Traffic Bill 2025 that will provide for, among other items, the introduction of graduated penalties for speeding and the consideration of re-education courses to be introduced as part of the sanctions available for certain road traffic offences. These Bills will be treated as a priority by this Government, as these will enable primary actions in this Action Plan and the delivery of key Programme for Government commitments in the area of road safety, helping to ensure that we make our roads safer for all road users.

Signed

Micheál Martin TD Taoiseach

Simon Harris TD Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence

Darragh O’Brien TD Minister for Transport and Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment

Jim O’Callaghan TD Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

Seán Canney TD Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports

Jerry Buttimer TD Minister of State for Rural Transport and Minister of State for Community Development and Charities

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