The Road Safety Authority (RSA ) is urging people nationwide to continue their life-saving behaviour and get involved in the national and local efforts to reduce road deaths.
This plea comes as the RSA announced details of its annual ‘drive to save lives’ during Irish Road Safety Week, which takes place nationwide from next week on Monday, October 10 to Sunday, October 16.
To date this year, 132 people have lost their lives on Irish roads, a reduction of 16 on the same period last year. Of these, almost half were drivers, and one in five were pedestrians.
Even more worryingly, almost one third of road-users killed were aged between 16 and 25 years. However road fatality statistics to date suggest that, this year, road deaths could fall below 200 for the first time since records began.
A number of road safety activities will take place throughout the country during Irish Road Safety Week, beginning on Monday, October 10 with the RSA’s annual lecture on road safety in Dublin Castle. This year’s lecture will focus on young drivers aged 17 to 24 years.
In addition, the following activities will take place around the country:
National Tyre Safety Day will take place on Tuesday, October 11. This initiative is being run by the Irish Tyre Industry Association to raise awareness of the need to maintain your tyres, particularly coming into the winter months. Free tyre checks will be available nationally at participating tyre centres, along with a free safety pack (while stocks last ).
The annual Leading Lights in Road Safety awards will be announced at a ceremony in Farmleigh on Wednesday, October 12. These awards honour the efforts made by individuals and groups around the country to promote road safety at national and community level;
‘Beep Beep Day’ is a road safety awareness day which is taking place on Friday, October 14 in almost 1,400 pre-schools throughout the country to celebrate Irish Road Safety Week. Children aged five and under will practise basic road safety messages with the Simon and Friends road safety storybooks, songs, games, and activities. Information regarding child safety in cars is also being distributed to parents. This event is coordinated nationally by the RSA and organised locally by the county and city childcare committees.
