Annual Report 2015 Údarás Um Shábháilteacht Ar Bhóithre Road Safety Authority ROAD SAFETY AUTHORITY 01 CONTENTS ANNUAL REPORT 2015 01 ROAD SAFETY AUTHORITY 02 CHAIRPERSON’S STATEMENT LIZ O’DONNELL, CHAIRPERSON 2015 saw a 14% decline in road deaths In 2016 we are going to need that ROAD SAFETY compared to 2014. support. I have great difficulty in describing Support for a new Road Traffic Bill which LAWS NEED this as a success. While I welcome the provides for: reduction in the number of fatalities and • The introduction of chemical EFFECTIVE those bereaved, I’m acutely aware that roadside testing to tackle drug there are 166 families and communities driving ENFORCEMENT devastated as a result of road trauma last year. • The introduction of a new 20 km/h speed limit for housing However crude, the number of people Key points estates killed on the road remains the only way • 166 families and we can measure progress in road safety. • The introduction of a third communities devastated as As the primary State body for road safety, payment option for those who a result of road trauma it is important that we acknowledge didn’t receive their fixed charge this progress, so that we can report to • Ireland falling behind the rest notice in the post. the public that our collective efforts are of Europe in setting 30km/h paying off. These provisions will go a long way speed limits towards addressing some of the key • Welcome the current The RSA, along with other agencies, issues on our roads. Programme for Government advocacy groups and road safety campaigners, works hard to persuade We also need to turn our attention to restore Garda numbers back to other road safety issues that we of 15,000 people to change their attitudes and behaviour, in order to reduce the thought had been effectively tackled, • Concern that we are seeing number of casualties on the road. So it is such as excessive speed and drink- clear evidence of regression important to acknowledge that improved driving. behaviour when it occurs. Over the past 12 months, the RSA and If we don’t, how can we ensure their An Garda Síochána have worked closely continued support for road safety and to develop a deeper understanding of their ‘buy in’ when the next enforcement what causes collisions on our roads. To measure is introduced? that end, the RSA Research Department ANNUAL REPORT 2015 02 ROAD SAFETY AUTHORITY was given access to all of the data and As a society, we have a responsibility visibility of the Traffic Corps is increased information available for fatal collisions to better understand the devastating on our roads. between 2008 and 2012, including the consequences of drink-driving and to While the Gardaí and the intervention of strive to find solutions and resources to Forensic Collision Investigation Report. other agencies will play a role in making address this behaviour. What we have found is, quite simply, the roads safer in 2016, the biggest shocking. The most recent research As individuals, we have to take personal responsibility will rest on the shoulders of conducted into the role of alcohol in fatal responsibility for our own actions. When every road user. As our new tag line says: collisions serves as a stark reminder that someone drink-drives, they do it with the “Safer roads, only you can get us there.” the scourge of drink-driving is still very full knowledge that their ability to drive present in communities throughout the is significantly impaired and that driving country. under the influence of alcohol increases Liz O’Donnell the risk of death and injury on our roads. Chairperson The research showed that alcohol was a factor in 38% of fatal collisions between Yes, road safety laws need effective 2008 and 2012. In numbers, that means enforcement and I very much welcome 286 people were killed because they or the commitment in the current someone else had consumed alcohol. Programme for Government to restore Further analysis of the figures shows that Garda numbers to its pre-recession this behaviour is particularly prevalent strength of 15,000 Gardaí. among young males aged between 16 An Garda Síochána plays a vital role and 24 years old. in keeping our roads free from death There is no justification for drink-driving. and serious injury through monitoring And while most of us do the right thing of high risk road behaviour and and find alternative transport home after enforcement of road traffic laws. A a night out, there is still a significant highly visible presence of Gardaí on the road, plus the fear of enforcement, is cohort of people who think it is ok to put the single biggest factor in changing their lives and the lives of others at risk people’s behaviour when using the with this behaviour. road. So it is vital that the strength and ANNUAL REPORT 2015 03 ROAD SAFETY AUTHORITY 03 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT MOYAGH MURDOCK, CHIEF EXECUTIVE complacency. It is vital that we build on these deaths could have been prevented 2015 SAW A this improvement. If we are to achieve had one been worn. the primary objective of the Road Safety Our ability to protect those most exposed 14% DECLINE IN Strategy it means reducing deaths to danger on the road was mixed. While annually to 124 or fewer by 2020. there was a decline in the number of child, DEATHS COMPARED 2015 saw a significant improvement in cyclist and pedestrian deaths, the number the way we record and analyse road crash of motorcyclists dying on the road is a TO 2014. data. The system by which we analyse cause for concern. preliminary Garda reports from the While there was a negligible reduction scene of a road crash, called a CT68, was Key points in the number of motorcyclists killed on enhanced. This was principally achieved the roads in 2015 compared to 2014, • Second safest year on record by creating a dedicated electronic link (22 compared to 24), improvement in between the RSA and Garda records. motorcycle safety isn’t happening quickly • Greatest risk we face on the road is This enables us to receive information complacency enough. Fatality rates have been too on crashes in real time and assists us in high over the last number of years and a • Functions of the RSA have changed identifying trends and responding to them particular focus on this vulnerable road more swiftly. radically from when it was established user group will need to be made in 2016. in 2006 There are worryingly familiar patterns Efforts will also need to focus on the age coming from information available from • Ensuring we are more customer groups most at risk. In 2015 there was preliminary crash reports for 2015. Road focused an increase in deaths among those aged safety is a male problem - almost 80% of 16-25 and those aged 56-65 compared A total of 166 people lost their lives in deaths in 2015 were males. The majority of to 2014. 2015. While one death is one too many, fatalities were drivers (75) and disturbingly 2015 does mark an improvement, a 14% 26% of those drivers were not wearing a While the RSA’s high profile, and award decline in deaths compared to 2014. It seatbelt at the time of the crash. While winning media campaigns, are well is the second safest year on record and is there was a 31% reduction in passenger recognised and continue to be the most a welcome reversal of what had been an deaths, here too there was a worrying non effective ads on TV, the work represents upward trend in road casualties, over the seatbelt wearing rate. A third were not just a fraction of what the RSA does on a past number of years. wearing one at the time of the crash. daily basis. However, I’ve said it before that one of This is very hard to fathom and heart- 2015 was an incredibly busy year for the the greatest risks we face on the road is breaking when you wonder how many of Authority and praise indeed must go to ANNUAL REPORT 2015 04 ROAD SAFETY AUTHORITY the highly dedicated and hard-working in the delivery of its services. In 2015 the files what are submitted to the DPP to staff in the organisation who were RSA Operational Expenditure Outturn was decide if proceedings are to be taken instrumental in achieving: €63.4 million. against an individual following a fatal crash. They have a level of detail that • Production of 500,000 Licences and The organisation has changed. The exceeds anything the RSA has had access challenge for me as CEO and my Learner Permits to in the past. We are extremely grateful management team is to ensure that the • Delivery of 132,000 Driving Tests to the Gardaí and in particular the Garda Authority has the appropriate structure, National Traffic Bureau for granting access infrastructure and resources to meet this • Delivery of 130,000 Theory Tests to these files. new challenge. Ensuring we are more • Production of 15,000 Digital customer focused, in the delivery of all our Indeed we are indebted to all our Tachograph Cards services, is of paramount importance if we stakeholders, in particular the Department • Inspection of 1,500 Commercial are to successfully adapt to the changing of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Drivers’ Hours nature of the organisation. Gardaí, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, Local We also provided essential roadworthiness Continuing the evolution of the RSA Authorities and the HSA.