RSA miss deadlines on safety actions

THREE OUT of four of the road safety actions in the Government's new Road Safety Strategy have not been implemented by their deadline of March 31st.

Last night a spokesman for the Road Safety Authority (RSA) said that a number of problems had been encountered with three projects, but added that work was ongoing.

The measures are part of a list of 126 actions in the strategy, each of which has been assigned a target date and an agency responsible for its implementation.

The funding row over the introduction of speed cameras means it is almost certain that this target will also be missed as the strategy had set a July 1st deadline.

One of the actions, due to have been completed by March 31st, would have enhanced the collection of data on garda enforcement activity to allow the RSA better review and analyse the Road Safety Strategy.

A second action that will see the development and introduction of an integrated research methodology about the levels of drink-driving is also delayed.

According to the spokesman, "unforeseen" difficulties accessing the Garda fixed charge processing system and arranging for a transfer of data has delayed both of these actions.

The third action, scheduled for introduction on March 31st, was a centralised permit system for the movement of wide and long loads along national roads.

The RSA spokesman denied that the deadlines in the strategy were indicative or inspirational. "The reason we put in the deadlines was so that people can hold us to account. The work on these projects hasn't happened as quickly as we hoped and there might have to be revision to some deadlines as we reschedule and reprioritise the work."

He pointed out that all actions listed for 2007 had been successfully completed. The fourth action, due for completion by March 31st, a review of collision analysis to ensure road factors receive immediate remedial attention, was completed on time.