Concern at 'huge' reduction of garda numbers on road policing duty as road fatalities rise

The number of gardaí assigned to road policing duties has fallen at the same time that road deaths are on the increase, according to figures released by a road safety group. 

PARC, the road safety organisation, has highlighted the "huge reduction in gardaí assigned to Roads Policing Units at a time when so many precious lives are being lost in RTCs on Irish roads". 

Gardai assigned to Roads Policing duties reduced to 659 at a time when 136 people have died in RTCs on Irish roads, PARC has identified in its research.

"The main objective of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau is to increase public confidence in safety on Irish roads by reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads...and yet the number of gardaí assigned to Roads Policing Units reduced to 659 in August, 2023," Parc states. 

Parc expressed concern that the number of gardaí involved in dedicated Road Policing Units declined by 14 officers in July. In that month, 17 people died on Irish roads.

Between June and July, figures show that 14 more gardaí had left the dedicated road policing units around the country.

Gardai assigned to Roads Policing duties reduced to 659 now at a time when 136 people have died in RTCs on Irish roads. @leovaradkar @HMcEntee @jackfchambers #RoadSafety

— PARC RoadSafetyGroup (@PARCroadsafety) September 27, 2023

Garda officers departed units - for a variety of unspecified reasons - in Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Galway, Kilkenny, Laois and Offaly.

By August, an additional five gardaí had left road policing units bringing the overall national total down to 659.

Counties Wicklow, Kildare, Louth and Sligo-Leitrim reported lower personnel numbers on traffic units.

It emerged recently that ten counties in Ireland have already seen road deaths reach or exceed last year's figure, with just under nine months of the year gone. 

Road fatalities in Tipperary, Mayo, Galway, and Westmeath have increased by more than 100%. 

Deaths on Irish roads reached 130 for the first nine months of the year. There has been an alarming rise in the number of young drivers, pedestrians and passengers killed in road tragedies in 2023.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar recently said that Ireland is going backwards in terms of road safety. 

He said they want to see "people being safe on the road, driving within speed limits, not using mobile phone while driving, which is extremely dangerous, and not using drugs or alcohol while driving".

"And the main message I think we need to put across to people is that we’ve gone backwards in terms of road safety.

"A terrible number of people have lost their lives on our roads this year, particularly young people.

"It really is heartbreaking.

"I think one thing we’ll have to reiterate is a very strong public advertising campaign.

"I know a lot of people didn’t like those shock ads of the past but I do think they were effective.

"And we haven’t seen them for quite some time.

"And there is going to be renewed political focus and renewed political impetus on the whole road safety issue," the Taoiseach said.