Ireland study visit on enforcement and road safety strategies 2024
A delegation consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Lithuanian Police, VIA Lietuva (Road Administration), led by Vice-Minister Julius Skačkauskas, and the European Commission, accompanied by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), participated in a study visit on enforcement and strategic approaches to road safety on September 9-10, 2024.
The visit was hosted by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and supported by the Irish Police (An Garda Síochána) and Ireland’s Department of Transport as part of the EU Road Safety Exchange project.
The program began with an overview of Ireland’s road safety stakeholders and their long-term strategic approach to road safety. Experts from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) presented the development process of their current road safety strategy for 2021-2030, which includes three action plans. A total of 186 actions were defined for the first three years.
The creation of each action plan involved engaging with various stakeholders across the country and consulting the public, with a special focus on young people to incorporate their perspectives and concerns about road safety. Continuous evaluation of the identified road safety measures is conducted annually to ensure the action plan’s relevance and effectiveness.
Next, a presentation was given on the development of a comprehensive national strategy for the future rollout and expansion of safety cameras in Ireland. The legislative background, the procedures for making decisions about the installation of safety cameras, and the responsibilities of each authority were outlined.
The Lithuanian representatives shared their experiences and current challenges in developing a network of safety cameras. Participants engaged in practical discussions, highlighting the importance of establishing public support, transparency, and political will as key factors for successful automated enforcement.
Later, the Irish delegation showcased their legislative framework designed to support effective enforcement. Ireland’s penalty point system particularly intrigued the Lithuanian representatives, as Lithuania currently lacks such a system. However, the topic frequently arises in discussions about fines and penalties for road safety violations.
The first day of the visit concluded with a presentation on urban road safety plans and the regulation of speed limits on Irish roads. The discussions covered challenges related to defining urban zones, their regulation, and the establishment of 30 km/h zones in cities.
On the second day, discussions were held at the Department of Transport, where representatives from the Irish Police (An Garda Síochána) presented their work and projects related to strategic enforcement across the country. They analyzed various data sets, including demographic trends, the number of issued licenses, and local knowledge, to ensure that road checks are conducted efficiently and that police data is interpreted with full context.
Several specific cases were presented to illustrate this approach, demonstrating how data on particular areas of the road network is used to select the best measures to address road safety issues.
Later in the afternoon, the delegation took part in a multi-agency checkpoint, observing firsthand how specialists from the Road Safety Authority and the Police conduct roadside checks.
These checks included tachograph data inspections, vehicle roadworthiness assessments, insurance validity verifications, and a demonstration of a drug-driving test. The Irish police also showcased their mobile application, which enhances the efficiency of these multi-agency checkpoints. Lithuanian representatives shared their practices and discussed key similarities and differences in their approaches.
The two productive days of exchanging practices highlighted the significance of a strategic approach to road safety, beginning with the development of national road safety strategies and extending to their enforcement on the roads. Both Lithuanian and Irish representatives expressed eagerness to continue their collaboration, with a national workshop in Vilnius planned for early 2025.