I am concerned about the number of pedestrians that lost their lives on our roads in 2014. The total of 42, ranging across all age groups, was an increase of 11 over 2013. The Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020 sets out a number of Actions aimed at increasing the safety of pedestrians throughout the country. These Actions will be implemented by the State body identified in the lifetime of the Strategy.
The Road Safety Authority is already promoting, through various media, a number of education measures, at school and community levels, aimed at pedestrians safety, including A Safe Cross Code website, a contribution towards the cost of the Junior School Warden school project and a television campaign highlighting the dangers associated with Drunken Pedestrians.
The matter of high visibility clothing and other safety measures is a matter of personal responsibility for adults and this aspect of pedestrian safety is being addressed by the RSA safety campaigns. In addition, in the region of €1 million has been spent by the RSA each year since the start of the decade on hi visibility material, which has been distributed via crèches, primary and secondary schools, national and community events and Garda stations nationwide.