Ciarán FerrieAug 24, 2023

"It feels like there are echoes of the well-trodden US response to mass shootings in schools to these recent spate of deaths. Mirroring the call of the gun-rights lobby post-Sandy Hook to send children to school with bulletproof backpacks so as not to be future victims; the Road Safety Authority continued with its evidence-free call for pedestrians and cyclists to be visible and adorned in hi-viz."

This is a must read from Keith Adams of the JCFJ

#RoadSafety

https://www.jcfj.ie/2023/08/24/choose-your-weapon-cars-or-fists/

Choose Your Weapon: Cars or Fists? - Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice in Ireland

Causing the death of a pedestrian or cyclist will continue to be treated as manslaughter but the statutory response to careless and dangerous driving resulting in serious injury is not served by meagre fines for motorists who do not even have a driving ban imposed. Lifetime driving disqualifications must be on the table of sanctions as a driver who has caused injury has visibly demonstrated an inability to safely operate a motor vehicle

Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice in Ireland
Show threadCiarán FerrieAug 26, 2023

Lots of "thoughts and prayers" from politicians today as the number of fatalities on Irish roads is now almost 40% higher than the same date in 2019.

#RoadSafety

Higher education minister leads tributes to four young people who died in tragic Clonmel crash https://jrnl.ie/6152584

Higher education minister leads tributes to four young people who died in tragic Clonmel crash

Three teenage girls and an older brother were in the car on the way to a Leaving Cert results celebration.

TheJournal.ie
Show threadCiarán Ferrie

A reminder that road traffic fatalities are not, and should never be described as, "freak accidents".

There has been a fatal road traffic incident on average every second day this year so far, resulting in the deaths of 118 people. Anything happening with that regulatory can not be described as a freak occurrence.

And even the use of the word "accident" is problematic as it makes crashes seem inevitable and unavoidable when in most cases they are not.

Aug 26, 2023 at 1:22pmWeb
Show threadCiarán FerrieAug 26, 2023

It's over two years since the National Union of Journalists published their Road Collision Reporting Guidelines but Irish journalists have still not adopted the guidelines in their reporting.

https://www.rc-rg.com/guidelines

Guidelines | Road Collision Reporting Guidelines

RC-RG
Show threadCiarán FerrieAug 28, 2023

One of the recommendations of the NUJ Guidelines is that reporters provide context that helps us understand wider issues and trends around individual collisions.

I would like to see journalists reporting on the approach of Local Authorities, An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority towards reducing road deaths.

"Education and Awareness" to change driver behaviour is not working.

https://www.nenaghguardian.ie/2023/06/24/council-drive-to-reduce-road-collisions-in-tipperary/

Council drive to reduce road collisions in Tipperary | Nenagh Guardian

Tipperary County Council, in conjunction with its partners, the Road Safety Authority (RSA), Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), An Garda Síochána (AGS), Tipperary Fire and Rescue Service and the HSE/National Ambulance Service (NAS) has launched the s...

Nenagh Guardian
Show threadCiarán FerrieAug 28, 2023

At their launch two months ago there was no mention by Tipperary County Council or An Garda Síochána of the most effective measures for improving road safety - better road design, increasing alternative transport options, reducing speed limits, restricting car access, more enforcement etc.

Without a radical rethink of our approach to #RoadSafety, we are not going to reduce fatalities. It's time we had a public debate about that.

Show threadCiarán FerrieAug 28, 2023

Since I posted earlier I note that Minister for State Jack Chambers has spoken on RTE Radio 1 about the latest Garda figures, saying that he is working with the Road Safety Authority and An Garda Síochána to "strengthen the wider road safety message and address some of the historic causes which contribute to the upward trend" including expanding speed detection cameras and reviewing speed limits. He also notes the importance of increased enforcement.

https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22291498/

Show threadKevin Teljeur ❄️Aug 28, 2023

@ccferrie You know what I think of the RSA…

You know, what might help is creating a lobby group to effectively replace the RSA. Get on radio, TV, start speaking about it, like Conor Faughnan of the AA. Eclipse them. Create pressure.

Show thread𝔅icyclet𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰Aug 26, 2023
@ccferrie
Put it differently : #RSA is not serious, and it not fit for purpose.