LMFM & IBI Road Safety Campaign 2026

This Independent Boradcasters 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

Road safety is an issue that reaches every single person in Ireland. Whether behind the wheel, walking to school, cycling through town, or commuting along busy motorways, everyone shares the same space. Yet, behind the daily routine of travel lies an unsettling reality: tragic, life-altering collisions remain a constant occurrence on the road network.

LMFM is taking part in the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI) Road Safety Campaign, bringing the conversation into sharp focus. Featuring harrowing personal accounts from bereaved advocates alongside rigorous regional data from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána.

When talking about road safety, numbers alone cannot convey the devastation caused by fatal crashes. For grassroots campaigners, advocacy is rooted in personal tragedy.

Susan Gray, founder of the PARK (Promoting Awareness Responsibilities and Knowledge on Road Safety) group, shared the heartbreaking story of her late husband, Steve. On St. Stephen’s Night in 2004, Steve was working in his local hackney business in Inishowen, County Donegal, when he was knocked down and killed by an unaccompanied learner driver. His body was later discovered in a field behind his van. In the aftermath, Gray discovered a glaring gap in the legal framework: under current road traffic law at the time, testing the surviving driver for alcohol or drugs at the scene was left entirely to the officer’s discretion. Shocked by this oversight, Gray founded PARK (originally Public Against Road Carnage) to fight for mandatory testing. After five years of relentless campaigning, former Transport Minister Leo Varadkar introduced mandatory drug and alcohol testing at all fatal collision scenes.

Reflecting on the group’s journey, Gray emphasized the ongoing work required to support victims’ families:" We produced a guide—the ’Finding Your Way’ guide for families that have lost loved ones—to guide them through the Garda investigation, the DPP’s office, what their input is after a fatal crash, the Coroner’s Court, and so on. So we became a support group as well as a group that worked with all the relevant agencies to get loopholes closed and laws changed. "

Leo Liegio, Vice President and Public Relations Officer for the Irish Road Victims Association (IRVA), experienced similar tragedy in October 2005. His daughter, Marcia, was returning home from a party in Clondalkin, Dublin, when she was hit by a driver at a pedestrian crossing. Marcia fought for her life in the hospital for a week before passing away on October 22—her sister’s birthday. Since then, Liegio has dedicated his life to road safety advocacy. One of his primary focuses is changing public perceptions around collision language: " We don’t call them accidents anymore, because that’s normalizing things—these are preventable collisions. They happen because of the choices people make: whether they’re going to speed, drink or drug drive, not wear their seatbelt, or use a mobile phone. These are conscious decisions people make, and sadly, innocent people suffer. "

Through school visits and youth education, Liegio strives to keep his daughter’s memory alive while educating young drivers on the grave responsibility that comes with operating a vehicle.

Both advocates pointed to key legislative loopholes and enforcement shortages that hinder meaningful safety improvements. Susan Gray highlighted new regulations mandating that learner permit holders must attempt a driving test before renewing their permit. Previously, drivers could endlessly renew permits for over 15 years without taking a test—a loophole that allowed thousands of inexperienced drivers to operate vehicles unaccompanied.

Susan Gray also highlighted a sentencing flaw regarding prison time and driving bans: " If somebody is jailed and gets a disqualification, that disqualification starts on the day they enter prison. If they got a 10-year disqualification and they’re jailed for five years, five years of that disqualification is spent by the time they walk out of prison. That is ludicrous. We’ve asked for the disqualification to only start on release from prison. "

Campaigners continue to push for Gardaí to have real-time mobile access to the National Driver File database. Checkpoint officers often encounter drivers who provide false names and dates of birth, allowing disqualified or high-penalty drivers to avoid detection due to a lack of immediate photographic identification.

Leo Liegio has called for stricter measures against driver distraction - specifically phone use, texting, and watching media while driving. He advocated for double penalty points, zero-tolerance policies, and the deployment of AI-powered roadside cameras to automatically detect seatbelt and mobile phone violations.

Road traffic fatalities across Ireland have risen sharply, climbing to more than 180 deaths annually. This trend marks a reversal after decades of sustained safety improvements. Mid-year RSA reports highlight County Louth as a high-risk area, recording 8 road traffic deaths in the first half of the year alone—placing it alongside major population centers like Dublin, Cork, and Donegal.

In County Meath, collision data reveals that the vast majority of serious and fatal collisions occur on high-speed rural roads (80 km/h and 100 km/h limits). Heavy commuter corridors—including the M4, M3, and N2—frequently feature in severe multi-vehicle collisions and late-night single-vehicle incidents. Nearly half (48%) of all road deaths nationally comprise vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and e-scooter riders. Motorcyclist deaths in particular reached multi-year highs.

Despite a national population increase exceeding 750,000 people, dedicated Garda Roads Policing unit numbers have dropped to approximately 644 officers—down from 1,046 in 2009. Checkpoint figures and breath-test rates have similarly declined.

While public awareness and road design are essential, campaigners maintain that physical enforcement remains the ultimate solution. Susan Gray said it’s the number one priority: "We can have all the laws we like, the government can introduce as many laws as they like, but without the Gardaí to be there to enforce it, it’s useless. Adequate Gardaí assigned to our roads policing units is the number one ask."

You can listen to the first LMFM Road Safety Awareness Special below :