A two-day national conference on road safety has opened in Killarney, Co Kerry, where 300 delegates will hear from 28 keynote speakers.
The theme of the conference is safer roads. It is being hosted by Kerry County Council, in association with Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
During the conference, gardaí and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) are launching a road safety campaign for this weekend and the St Patrick's Day holiday, promising a dedicated roads policing operation targeting drink and drug driving and other dangerous behaviours on our roads.
So far this year, 32 people have lost their lives in fatal road crashes on Irish roads.
The Road Safety Authority is appealing to people to prioritise safety to prevent further loss of life and serious injuries on the roads.
The Safer Roads conference will bring together people who work on roads along with those working in road safety.
One of those attending is Tony Johnstone from Ballincollig in Cork.
Last June, Tony lost his 25-year-old son, Harry, to a road crash, when his motorcycle was in collision with a car near Bandon.
Tony says he misses Harry every day.
"We were great friends, as well as father and son," Tony told RTÉ News. "Obviously, myself and my wife, our lives are just completely different."
He's urging drivers to take more consideration for themselves and others on the roads.
"Just drive with a bit more care. Speed is a huge factor. I think one of the biggest things now is distracted driving as well."
Among the topics being discussed will be the upcoming changes in speed limits, roads enforcement, scooters and scramblers, and how digital technology can help to create safer roads.
The conference will focus on all aspects of road safety including road design, engineering, enforcement, road killer behaviour, collision trends, technology, education, cycling, e-mobility and scramblers, and active and sustainable travel.
It's the second year the conference is taking place and the organiser is Kerry County Council's Road Safety Officer, Declan Keogh.
"The safer roads conference provides a platform and forum to road safety professionals and stakeholders alike, to engage with each other, learn from each other and to share knowledge and experience with one another, to broaden the knowledge and approach in helping to improve road safety and create safer roads for all road users of every mobility," Mr Keogh said.
The conference is being supported by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, its main sponsor.
Head of Road Safety at Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Alastair de Beer, said the conference had quickly become a national event.
"By uniting experts in road safety, engineering, enforcement, education, mobility, and emerging technologies such as AI, the conference provides a valuable platform to share best practice, explore innovative solutions and strengthen collaboration toward reducing collisions and saving lives," Mr de Beer said.
A roads policing operation targeting drink and drug driving on the roads this weekend and over the St Patrick's bank holiday was also launched at the conference.
The RSA says that one in four road deaths across Europe are estimated to be alcohol related.
The RSA also highlighted research it commissioned which showed that 12% of drivers admitted they had driven in the past year after consuming alcohol, while a quarter of drivers felt it was acceptable to drive a short distance in their local area after drinking.
Almost a quarter said they may have been over the limit when driving the morning after a night out.
In addition, analysis by the RSA of coroners' data shows that more than one third of driver fatalities in the five years to 2020 where toxicology results were available tested positive for alcohol.
Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, Jerry Buttimer, said everyone must take responsibility for their behaviour on our roads.
He called for those who flout the law to be challenged and called out.
"We cannot put others’ lives, or our own lives, at risk when driving," he said. "Where we see such behaviour, we must challenge it and call it out. I urge people to enjoy yourselves but also remember to make the right decisions."
Provisional analysis by An Garda Síochána of drivers arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in 2025 show that 86% were male, 14% female.
In terms of ages of drivers, almost a third, 29%, were in the 21-30 years age range; another 29% were aged 31-40; seven per cent were under 21; 20% were aged 41-50; 10% were 51-60 years of age; and five per cent were over 61 years of age.
Just over half of arrests occurred between Friday and Sunday, while 63% of arrests occurred between the hours of 6pm and 3am throughout the week.
Assistant Garda Commissioner for Roads Policing, Catharina Gunne, said St Patrick’s weekend must not be a time of tragedy.
"Drink and drug driving remain among the leading causes of death and serious injury on Irish roads. Our message is simple: if you are under the influence of an intoxicant, do not drive. The risk is never worth it."
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