Around Christmas dinner tables this week there will be at least 182 empty seats.
That is how many people have died in collisions on Irish roads this year so far.
Unfortunately, is more than 2024 and marks a disconcerting continuation over recent years of rising road deaths. It is too many.
[ Road deaths in 2025 passes figure for last year Opens in new window ]
Last week, Minister of State for Transport Seán Canney decided not to disband the Road Safety Authority (RSA) into two agencies, a move which had been recommended by external consultants.
READ MORE
In the short-term this decision avoids significant and distracting upheaval.
New legislation would be required, two new boards, two sets of funding, new branding and websites, new management teams, and so forth.
This would have taken considerable time.
Not proceeding with the break-up also avoids a scenario with even more agencies responsible for road safety.
However, this decision will not address the reasons why road deaths in Ireland have been steadily rising in recent years.
As Sinead O’Sullivan in a recent column pointed out, the single greatest challenge in terms of road safety in this country is the absence of a clear line of ownership.
The RSA is responsible for a range of important road safety levers including road safety education, driver education, driver testing and licensing and vehicle standards.
However, it has no say in terms of roads policing nor legislative reform nor the courts process, where lacunas remain in terms of the recording of licencing details of disqualified drivers persist, to name but one issue.
As O’Sullivan says there is not one, senior Minister responsible for delivering on the Government’s stated goal of cutting road deaths to 72, or fewer, by 2030.
O’Sullivan adds that “as long as Ireland’s road governance remains defined by this diffusion of responsibility, there will inevitably be more such deaths.”
“Ireland does not treat road deaths as structural failures. Rather, we treat them as unfortunate incidents that will be mourned but cannot be prevented. That framing protects institutions, not people.”
Looking back over the almost 20 years since the formation of the RSA it is clear road safety has gradually slipped down the political agenda.
For progress to be made, along with addressing funding and other structural issues within the RSA, the political system needs to reprioritise road safety and create clear political accountability which leads to one person.
We value your views. Please feel free to send comments, feedback or suggestions for topics you would like to see covered to feedback@irishtimes.com.
