Government ministers will meet this week to identify ways to reverse the trend of rising road deaths, reports RTE.
127 people have died on the roads so far this year, which is 25% more than the same period last year.
Jack Chambers says twice as many people died on Irish roads last month than in August 2022.
“This is something I want to reverse. I am bringing a speed limits review to Government this month to address the inconsistency of speed limits on our roads,” he said, reports RTE.
Chambers is due to meet Justice Minister Helen McEntee this week.
The meeting is expected to focus on strengthening police enforcement on the roads between now and Christmas to “reverse this worrying trend”.
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he had spoken to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris about the need for better enforcement of road safety laws.
In correspondence with the road safety group PARC (Promoting Awareness and Responsibility on Our Roads), Varadkar expressed concern that “we are now going backwards when it comes to road safety” and the issue needs more focus and attention.
The Taoiseach said the recent rise in road deaths was “not a blip” and the problem needed to be addressed.
Mr Varadkar said he had spoken to Commissioner Harris about the need for better enforcement, adding that there were more police officers than five years ago when enforcement was tighter.
PARC, an organization that helps people injured in serious road collisions, has expressed concern over the increase in road fatalities this year.
PARC has written to the country’s prime minister calling for sustained action to address the sharp rise in road deaths, reports RTE.
These include more effective law enforcement, better road technology for gardaí, the sharing of driver information between state agencies and insurers, and stricter rules to ensure new drivers pass their driving test before getting their next licence.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.