Road Safety Authority
| State Agency of the Department of Transport overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 September 2006 |
| Jurisdiction | Ireland |
| Headquarters | Moy Valley Business Park, Primrose Hill, Ballina, County Mayo, F26 V6E4 |
| Employees | 309 |
| State Agency of the Department of Transport executives |
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| Key document |
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| Website | RSA website |
The Road Safety Authority (Irish: Údarás Um Shábháilteacht Ar Bhóithre) or RSA, is a state agency formed by the Irish Government to promote road safety. The agency has devolved control of much of the work of the Department of Transport.
It was established in September 2006, charged with the task of improving safety on Irish roads and established under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, in response to the high amount of deaths on Irish roads.
The organisation's headquarters are located at Primrose Hill, Ballina, Co. Mayo. The current chairperson of the RSA is former TD Liz O'Donnell who succeeded veteran TV and radio celebrity, former host of the Late Late Show Gay Byrne. Mr. Byrne secured a second 5-year term in 2011. However, on 16 June 2014, he announced his intention to step down as Chairman on 5 August 2014.
Some controversy was caused when Mr. Byrne was shown traveling in a car with Terry Wogan when Mr. Byrne appeared not to be wearing his seatbelt. Mr. Byrne has also admitted to drink driving in the past, "but said it was part of the Irish culture at the time."
The RSA was mentioned in relation to public agencies continuing to operate outside of the remit of the Office of the Ombudsman and Information Commissioner, in a speech delivered by Emily O'Reilly in 2010.
In 2013, the CEO of the RSA, Noel Brett stepped down from his position as chief executive of the State-funded Road Safety Authority (RSA) to take up a position as chief lobbyist for the Irish Banking Federation :
"His appointment will come as a surprise given his lack of experience in the financial services sector, especially when the main banks in Ireland are striving to return to profitability and are under significant pressure to deal with the issue of mortgage arrears."http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/financial-services/road-safety-chief-noel-brett-appointed-as-head-of-banking-industry-lobby-group-1.1488761
Amongst the functions of the RSA are the promotion of road safety, research on accidents and road safety, driver testing and licensing, as well as establishing vehicle-related and other safe driving standards.
The RSA and An Garda Síochána enforce the licensing provisions of the Road Transport Acts: "As well as a fine, if you are an unlicensed haulier you can expect the RSA to look closely at your compliance with other laws, such as those covering: Drivers’ hours rules, Road traffic requirements, Roadworthiness of your vehicles and trailers."
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