Government's road safety measures 'miss the real issue'says Tipperary councillor

Tipperary county councillor Louise Morgan Walsh has criticised the Government's latest road safety announcements, arguing that they fail to address what she believes is the main cause of Ireland’s worsening road safety crisis: the collapse in enforcement and the ongoing decline in Garda Roads Policing numbers.

The comments come following recent Government announcements on road legislation, including measures relating to e-scooters and updates to Road Safety Authority initiatives.

"The Government can issue all the statements it wants about e-scooters and new regulations, but none of it matters if there is no enforcement behind it. Road death numbers this year are appalling, and communities in Tipperary are living with the consequences every day," she said.

"I continue to witness breaches of basic road safety every single week – speeding, drivers on mobile phones, people not wearing seat belts, and learner drivers travelling unaccompanied. The reality is simple: enforcement has collapsed, and Government has failed to respond," she said.

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Cllr Morgan Walsh also pointed to a reduction in the number of dedicated Garda Roads Policing officers nationally over the past decade. She cited reports of almost 400 fewer dedicated officers compared to 2009, saying the impact is being felt in Tipperary.

She has called for a fully staffed, full-time Roads Policing Unit to be based in Nenagh, arguing that existing arrangements are insufficient.

"Tipperary urgently needs a fully staffed, full-time Roads Policing Unit based in Nenagh. We cannot continue with part-time or shared arrangements. The scale of dangerous driving requires a visible, consistent policing presence," she said.

"We need more speed-detection technology, more mobile-phone detection systems, and more automated seat-belt enforcement. Other countries have embraced these tools – Ireland is still talking about them. Talk does not save lives," she said.

With schools due to return later this month, Cllr Morgan Walsh said road safety around schools should be a priority.

"Dark mornings, heavier traffic, and busy school zones create the perfect conditions for serious collisions. Without stronger enforcement, we are leaving children, parents, and school staff exposed to unacceptable risks," she said.

She concluded by calling on the Government to prioritise enforcement measures over further policy announcements.

"Road safety is not improved by press releases. It is improved by Gardaí on the roads, by checkpoints, by deterrence, and by consequences. Until the Government restores Roads Policing numbers and invests in modern enforcement technology, road deaths will continue to rise," she said.