Cross-Government approach needed to deal with road safety – Murphy

A new central focus from Government on road safety is needed, as Ireland is in the midst of a growing crisis which threatens to derail the State’s road safety strategy, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Michael Murphy, Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport said: “Our Road Safety Strategy sets clear, measurable targets for reducing fatalities and serious injuries. Those targets were ambitious, but achievable. However, on current trends we are clearly moving in the wrong direction.”

190 lives were lost on Irish roads last year, the highest number in several years, and 25 people have died this year which Deputy Murphy described as a serious setback to the progress made in recent years.

“If this trend continues, it would be a profound failure to meet the commitments set out in our national strategy. Each fatality represents another devastated family.” he said.

Deputy Murphy said he  raised the need for Cabinet-level intervention directly with the Transport Minister at yesterday’s meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport.

He has also written to both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste seeking the sub-committee to ensure cross-Government coordination between Transport, Justice, Health and other relevant Departments.

“This cannot be addressed within just one single Department. Enforcement capacity, legislative reform, data systems, court processes and emergency response all intersect in road safety outcomes. That demands structured, high-level political oversight at Cabinet level,” Deputy Murphy said.

As chair of the Transport Committee, Deputy Murphy has initiated a focused and outcome-driven programme of work examining:

• Garda roads policing numbers and visibility.
• Enforcement of disqualifications and licence compliance.
• Learner permit reform.
• Legislative gaps and data shortcomings.
• Cross-border enforcement issues.
• Consolidation of road traffic legislation.
• Speed limits across regional, local and urban roads.

Deputy Murphy concluded saying: “We cannot allow 190 annual deaths to become a baseline. The trend must be reversed.

“A Cabinet sub-committee would send a clear signal that Government recognises the seriousness of the crisis and is prepared to deliver co-ordinated, measurable actions that will save lives.”