Safety Plan aims to reduce road casualties

By Laura Lyne

THE South Dublin Road Safety Plan 2016-2020 was launched this week, with the plan showing that there were an average of 329 vehicle collisions across the county between 2008 and 2012 in the county.

It also showed that there was an average of five road fatalities per year in the same period, with the number of fatalities falling to two in 2011 and 2012.

Overall, there was a 0.2 per cent reduction in the number of collisions per population from 2006 to 2011.

The plan was produced by South Dublin County Council’s Road Safety Working Together Group, which is chaired by Fine Gael councillor for Lucan, William Lavelle.

Speaking at the launch of the plan, Cllr Lavelle said: “This new plan sets out to create a comprehensive strategy that will result in reducing road casualties in South Dublin and outlines actions across the four core elements of road safety – Education, Engineering, Enforcement and Evaluation.

“While this plan is aimed at road safety, I am convinced that improving the safety of our roads and providing safe routes to school is critical in supporting a shift to sustainable transport modes, to encouraging more walking and cycling, and taking short-trip car journeys off the road.”

A number of initiatives will take place across the county as part of the road safety plan, with several new initiatives to take place by the end of the year.

They include the introduction of three new school-warden supervisors, and the introduction of annual cycle safety training courses for adults.

A countywide review of speed limits will also take place this year, to implement the new 30 km/h speed limit residential areas across the county.

The Road Safety Plan 2016-2020 can be viewed online at www.sdcc.ie