Ireland’s Government Road Safety Strategy 2021 - 2030
Ireland’s fifth Government Road Safety Strategy outlines our road safety priorities for the next decade.
The primary aim of the government’s new road safety strategy is to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on Irish roads by 50% over the next 10 years.
Guiding the Road Safety Strategy is Vision Zero, Ireland's goal of achieving zero road deaths or serious injuries by 2050Strategy phases and actions
The Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 was developed through extensive engagement with key stakeholders and informed by over 2,000 submissions from the public. It will be delivered in three phases:
- Phase 1 Action Plan: 2021-2024
- Phase 2 Action Plan: 2025-2027
- Phase 3 Action Plan: 2028-2030
Strategy Action Plan - Phase 1
This is backed by a projected €3.8bn investment. It includes 50 high-impact actions and 136 support actions.
Safe Systems Approach
Guiding our journey towards Vision Zero is the Safe Systems approach. We have identified seven Safe System priority areas which will be the focal points of our work over the next ten years:
Safe roads and roadsides involve the planning, design and operation of roads and roadsides and provides the framework for safe road and vehicle use.
Road Transport Infrastructure Ireland's (TII) 'Forgiving Roads' Report explores the role that the roadside plays in crash severity and identifies appropriate revisions to our road design standards.
An effective post-crash response requires integration of injury care, mental health services, legal support and legislation, and data on road traffic crashes and injuries.
Read the report A Trauma System for Ireland from the HSE Trauma Steering Group for information on a trauma system for Ireland.
Shared Responsibility
One of the key underlying principles of the Safe Systems approach is shared responsibility. The responsibility for implementing Safe Systems across road safety policies and practices is shared among government, key stakeholders and all road users alike.
There are several critical success factors that will make it possible to reach our targets. These include:
- Political commitment
- Timely development and implementation of evidence-based policy and legislation
- Efficient data sharing and use of benchmarking across key stakeholders
- Innovation in the design of interventions and our approach to partnership-working
- Provision of essential funding for benefits realisation
- Provisions of safe, segregated infrastructure to facilitate modal shift towards active travel
- Behaviour changes due to enforcement interventions, education, and training
- Dedicated partnership-working with good governance and accountability
- Public and media support of our interventions and activities
Our road safety success in Ireland is a direct result of the commitment and dedication of our stakeholders, the Irish public and government.
Let's work together to make this decade Ireland's safest ever, as we begin our journey to Vision Zero.
Important documents
Ireland’s Government Road Safety Strategy 2021 -2030
Straitéis na hÉireann maidir le Sábháilteacht ar Bhóithre 2021–2030
Ireland’s Government Road Safety Strategy Phase 1 Action Plan 2021–2024
Press release of the Launch of Ireland’s Government Road Safety Strategy 2021 -2030