‘Make sure your visible on our roads’: RSA chief’s plea to ‘Be Safe, Be Seen’ on the roads this Christmas

Meath County Council's Road Safety Officer Audrey Norris is reminding people to 'Be Safe, Be Seen' on the roads this Christmas whether as a pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist or e-scooter rider and emphasised the importance of wearing a high viz.

An Garda Síochána recently launched ‘Can You See Me Now?’, a nationwide road-safety campaign designed to draw urgent attention to the critical importance of visibility on Irish roads, particularly for vulnerable road users including pedestrians, cyclists, e-scooter drivers and motorcyclists.

"Over the Christmas and New Year period, there is an increase in the use of the roads for recreational purposes which increases the risk of fatal or serious injury road traffic collisions. My priority as Road Safety Officer is to see a reduction in the number of deaths on our roads. The message is to be safe this Christmas. Do not drive while intoxicated, do not speed, do not drive while distracted and please wear your seatbelt," says Ms Norris.

"Do not put your life or the lives of others at risk. Don’t let friends or family drink and drive. If you plan to socialise – plan how you are to get home safely, and if you have been out the night before, think before you start the car. Just think ….. how long alcohol and drugs remain in your system depends on many factors."

Up to 18th December, 181 people had lost their lives in road traffic collisions on Irish roads. This includes 43 pedestrians, 71 drivers, 20 passengers, 30 motorcyclists, two e-scooter driver/passenger, 14 pedal cyclists, and one pillion passenger.

Ms Norris outlined that the primary objective of Meath County Council’s Road Safety Plan is to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 50 per cent by 2030.

A key element of this plan is education, including the Just1Life programme delivered to secondary school students that focuses on innovative and engaging ways to raise awareness about the importance of road safety.

"Our goal is to educate the community on safe driving habits, the dangers of distracted driving, and the importance of following traffic laws. By spreading this vital information, we hope to contribute to a marked decrease in the number of fatal accidents and serious injuries occurring not just in our county, but throughout the entire country. By April 2026 this programme will be delivered to 3,500 students. Through this programme we aim to equip our youth with essential driver behaviour skills and knowledge that will empower them to ultimately drive safely on our roads."