The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is urging people nationwide to continue their life-saving behaviour and get involved in the national and local efforts to reduce road deaths. This plea comes as the RSA announced details of their annual ‘drive to save lives’ during ‘Irish Road Safety Week’ which takes place nationwide from Monday 10th October to Sunday 16th October.

To date this year (20th September 2011), 132 people have lost their lives on Irish roads, a reduction of 16 on the same period last year. Of these, almost half (45%) were drivers and 1 in 5 (27 deaths) were pedestrians. Even more worryingly, almost one third of road-users killed (30%) were aged between 16 and 25 years old. However, road fatality statistics to date suggest that, this year, road deaths could fall below 200 for the first time since records began.

Mr Gay Byrne, Chairman, Road Safety Authority said: “Over the past five years, road-users in Ireland have proven just what can be achieved when we all take responsibility for the way we use the roads. And for that, I thank you. Although we have seen further reductions in road deaths this year, we have still lost 132 people in what are preventable tragedies. ‘Irish Road Safety Week’ is a time to reflect on your own behaviour on the roads, think about the improvements you can make to be a better, safer driver and how you can help to save even more lives on our roads.”

A number of road safety activities will take place throughout the country during ‘Irish Road Safety Week’, beginning on Monday 10th October with the RSA’s Annual Lecture on Road Safety in Dublin Castle. This year’s lecture will focus on young drivers aged 17 to 24 years old and will take place from approximately 10:30am to 12:30pm in the Kane Room in the Coach House in Dublin Castle.

Dr Kiran Samra of National University of Ireland, Galway will deliver a lecture on a recent survey he conducted into the Personality, Social Factors, Attitudes and Risky-Driving Behaviour of 17-24 year old drivers. This lecture will be responded to by two speakers – Professor Andrew Tolmie from the Institute of Education University of London who will deliver a presentation on his recent paper for the Department of Transport (UK) on ‘The Development of Children’s and Young People’s Attitudes to Driving’. This will then be followed by a Q&A session . In addition, the following activity will take place around the country:

• The ‘Check it Fits’ Roadshow which will visit Ballina, Galway, Limerick, Maynooth and Tallaght from Saturday 8th October to Wednesday 12th October. At ‘Check it Fits’ in Galway, Limerick and Tallaght, Advance Pitstop will also offer motorists a free 5 point ‘health check’ for their car including tyres, brakes, shocks, lights/levels and wipers. Information on dates and locations please go to Child safety in Cars section on the website.

National Tyre Safety Day will take place on Tuesday 11th October. This initiative is being run by the Irish Tyre Industry Association to raise awareness of the need to maintain your tyres, particularly coming into the winter months. Free tyre checks will be available nationally at participating tyre centres, along with a free safety pack (while stocks last); Further information is available at www.itia.ie

The Annual ‘Leading Lights in Road Safety’ Awards will be announced at a ceremony in Farmleigh on Wednesday 12th October. These awards honour the efforts made by individuals and groups around the country to promote road safety at national and community level. The Awards were introduced in 2008 to celebrate the outstanding efforts of people across Ireland to make roads safer for everyone. They provide a special opportunity for members of the public to honour the contribution of exceptional people who promote road safety in their communities. These awards recognise the extraordinary and often ‘unsung’ contributions of people across Ireland to making our roads safer.

The closing date for entries was Friday 16th September and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Farmleigh House on Wednesday 12th October. The awards will be judged by a prestigious panel including RTÉ Primetime presenter, Miriam O’Callaghan, Editor of the Irish Daily Star, Gerard Colleran, Head of News at Today FM, Cathy Farrell, the Welfare Officer at the Union of Students of Ireland, Chief Fire Officer of Dublin Fire Brigade, Hugh O’Neill and Joe Reynolds, CEO of Reynolds Logistics Ltd.

• ‘Beep Beep Day!’ is a road safety awareness day which is taking place on Friday 14th October in almost 1,400 pre schools throughout the country to celebrate Irish Road Safety Week. Children aged 5 and under will practise basic road safety messages with the ‘Simon and Friends’ road safety storybooks, songs, games and activities. Information regarding child safety in cars together with an information booklet on “Simon and Friends” is also being distributed to parents. This event is coordinated nationally by the RSA and organised locally by the County and City Childcare Committees nationwide.

• ‘European Night Without Accident’ will take place on Saturday 15th October in the following counties; Cork, Kildare, Meath, Waterford, Mayo, Leitrim and Donegal. This will be the fifth year that Ireland will participate in this initiative which is happening in 27 European countries in 2011. The initiative is run by young adult volunteers aged between 17 to 29 who encourage each group to choose a “designated driver” who agrees to make a promise: he/she commits themselves to being sober when they sits behind the wheel of their vehicle. When the “designated drivers” leave the nightclub, the volunteers give them the opportunity to undergo a breath analysis to check if they have honoured their commitment.

• There is also a series of initiatives being planned by road safety officers in Local Authorities around the country. For further details, visit www.rsa.ie.