Q102 and IBI Road Safety Campaign Episode 2

This Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI) initiative is supported by the News Reporting Scheme, which helps fund public interest journalism content through Coimisiún na Meán and the Exchequer

Episode 2 of Dublin’s Q102 Road Safety campaign was hosted by Lauren Beirne, this episode of Dublin Today focuses comprehensively on Irish road safety.

The program addresses four core topics: the political and social debate surrounding pedestrian and cyclist responsibility versus vehicle regulation; substantial reforms to learner driver permit rules introduced by the Road Safety Authority (RSA); child car seat compliance and the national "Check it Fits" campaign; and winter driving challenges faced by heavy goods vehicle (HGV) operators.

Episode 2 opened with an examination of the ongoing public debate sparked by comments from Minister Seán Canney, who suggested that all pedestrians should wear high-visibility clothing.

Dublin Councillor Janet Horner discussed whether safety responsibilities should weigh more heavily on vulnerable road users or motorists.

Cllr Horner firmly rejected the idea of placing the onus on pedestrians, arguing that accountability must correspond to the vehicle’s potential to inflict harm: " The responsibility always lies with the people who are using the vehicles that have the capacity to do the most damage... If you are operating a vehicle that is capable of killing man, woman, child, then you have to be acting with the level of responsibility and the government has to regulate those vehicles so that they are not able to do damage simply by basic mistakes that anyone could make ."

Cllr Horner also cautioned that compelling pedestrians to wear high-vis gear amounts to victim-blaming and creates a dystopian urban environment. She points out that such an approach is neither practical nor fair: " We are never going to get to a stage of a society where every pedestrian is going to be wearing high-vis... We would end up with children who get no time outside, we would end up with no nightlife and no nighttime economy if we were to ask for those kinds of regulations. "

According to Janet Horner, the primary danger facing road users is the critical deficit in dedicated infrastructure. Cyclists are frequently forced to " play leapfrog with two-ton buses, with trucks, with heavy goods vehicles ," creating hazardous scenarios that discourage everyday cycling, push more commuters into private cars, and exacerbate traffic congestion.

While acknowledging that Dublin City Council continues to work on local infrastructure, Cllr Horner stressed that substantial nationwide improvement requires decisive central government commitment, lower urban speed limits, and stronger investment in public transit.

Reporter Laura Kelly spoke with David Martin from the Road Safety Authority regarding major regulatory changes taking effect on November 1st targeting repeat learner permit holders. Under the new directive, drivers seeking a third or subsequent learner permit can no longer renew indefinitely by simply booking a driving test date; they must have actively sat a driving test within the previous two years.

Martin highlights the scale of the issue, pointing out that approximately 74,000 drivers hold at least a third learner permit, with over 12,000 individuals on their 11th permit or higher: " We can’t have people with multiple learner permits effectively abusing the system, not taking the test, constantly renewing their learner permits. It’s just not safe ."

The RSA’s David Martin said research carried out by the Authority indicated that a vast majority of learner drivers involved in fatal collisions were unaccompanied, in direct violation of the law.

Regarding potential testing backlogs, Mr. Martin explained that a 50% recruitment boost in driving testers has halved average wait times from 26–27 weeks down to 13 weeks, despite a 15% annual surge in test demand.

Reporter Louise Phelan D’Cruz interviewed Ron Richardson, lead checker for the RSA’s nationwide "Check it Fits" initiative, following research showing that 53% of car seats inspected across Ireland are fitted incorrectly.

Mr. Richardson noted that when the project started 14 years ago, the incorrect fitment rate was nearly 80%, showing long-term progress despite persistent risks.

Common critical errors include unclicked seatbelt buckles, improperly anchored Isofix points, unextended support legs, and incorrect top-tether installations. Ron Richardson also issued an explicit warning against dressing children in heavy winter clothing while strapped in: " It’s so important to avoid bulky jackets, body warmers, snowsuits, onesies, teddy bear outfits... When you have thinner layers of clothing on, it’s a lot easier—you get better penetration on the body, the skeletal parts of the body... bulky jackets, snowsuits, they really affect the seatbelt or the harness ."

When sourcing a car seat, parents are strongly discouraged from purchasing second-hand seats from unknown sources or online marketplaces, as internal structural damage or dismantled harnesses cannot easily be identified. For parents needing guidance, the RSA provides a free, traveling face-to-face service across every Irish county between January and December, supplemented by free online and WhatsApp video consultations available through rsa.ie/checkitfits .

Episode 2 concludes with Lauren Beirne interviewing Paul Toner, Managing Director at Toner Transport and Logistics, on the operational challenges heavy goods vehicles encounter during winter.

Paul identified slow-moving cars on motorways as one of the most hazardous daily challenges for truck drivers: " Trucks, HGVs traditionally travel in the slow lane to allow cars to pass... but trucks ride up behind cars, and the person in the car thinks that the truck is pushing the car on. It’s not. It’s the weight and motion of the truck carrying its load. "

Because commercial trucks are restricted to 90 km/h and carry immense momentum, abrupt braking caused by cars travelling well below the speed limit creates dangerous stop-start conditions. Mr. Toner urged motorists: " When the road is free-flowing, just please drive above 90 kilometers per hour ."

Paul Toner also highlighted that heavy rain generates thick spray plumes behind large commercial vehicles, advising motorists to maintain a safe stopping distance and pass deliberately rather than lingering nervously alongside or directly behind trucks. He assured drivers that professional HGV operators are mindful of learners and vulnerable drivers and will accommodate them if given appropriate space and predictable driving behaviour.