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RSA urges people to put road safety first as children return to school in Kildare
Take care on the roads
File photo: school bus
Reporter:
Niamh O'Donoghue
29 Aug 2025 2:00 PM
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has issued an urgent appeal to parents, guardians, teachers and motorists to make road safety a top priority as children across Kildare return to school after the summer holidays.
During this five-year period, 39 children aged up to 15 years lost their lives and a further 584 were seriously injured on Irish roads. Children in this age group accounted for 5% of all road fatalities and 8% of all serious injuries.
Of the 623 children killed or seriously injured, almost half (49%) were pedestrians, a quarter (25%) were passengers, and almost one fifth (18%) were cyclists.
The majority of child casualties (71%) were injured on urban roads with a speed limit of 60km/h or less.
One in seven child casualties were injured while travelling to or from school.
Dublin and Cork recorded the highest share of child casualties, 31% and 9% respectively.
Nearly one in five (19%) child casualties were injured on a Friday, making it the most dangerous day of the week.
Older children were particularly at risk: two in three serious injuries and almost seven in ten fatalities involved those aged 10–15 years.
With traffic volumes set to rise sharply as schools reopen, the RSA is reminding drivers to be aware of increased number of vehicles and of their responsibility to be alert and cautious around children walking, cycling or getting on and off buses.
Furthermore, parents must not allow their children to travel in vehicles without being properly restrained, placing their lives and safety at risk.
Sam Waide, Chief Executive of the RSA, said: “The return to school is always a busy time on our roads. Children, particularly those walking or cycling, are among the most vulnerable road users. Our latest report is a stark reminder of the devastating impact road traffic collisions can have on young lives and their families. We are asking every parent to talk to their children about safe road behaviour, every school to prioritise safety at the school gate, and every driver to slow down, stay alert, and give children the space and protection they deserve.”
An Garda Síochána’s Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing and Community Engagement Paula Hilman said: “As children return to schools this September, we must all be aware that the levels of traffic on our roads are set to increase. So far this year, pedestrians have made up one in five of all deaths on Irish roads. We ask all drivers, especially those driving in school areas, to always keep your eyes open for young children, to slow down and stay alert.”
“By simply reducing your speed while driving near schools and watching out for other cars stopping to let children out, the chances of a collision occurring greatly decrease. Together, we can all do our part to help save lives.”
The RSA is also reminding motorists to give cyclists sufficient space when overtaking - at least one metre in zones up to 50km/h and 1.5 metres in zones above 50km/h.
Parents and teachers are encouraged to consult the RSA’s Back to School Road Safety Guidelines, which provide practical advice on improving safety in and around schools. These are available at RSA.ie.
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With dark evenings closing in, it’s the perfect time to curl up with a hot chocolate, a cosy blanket, and the November/December edition of Kildare Life
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