Road safety in Longford ‘demands sustained action’ to achieve Vision Zero

Longford County Council has adopted a comprehensive Road Safety Action Plan 2025-2027, following approval by councillors at the November monthly meeting of the Council.

The plan represents Longford's contribution to Ireland's national mission of achieving Vision Zero—zero road deaths or serious injuries by 2050—and sets out concrete measures to reduce deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030.

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The strategy addresses all aspects of road safety through the internationally recognised Safe System approach, focusing on seven key areas: safe and healthy modes of travel, safe roads and roadsides, safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe road use, safe work-related road use, and post-crash response.

Key Actions for County Longford

The plan commits to delivering:
* Five kilometres of new or upgraded segregated walking and cycling infrastructure
* Improvements to ten junctions or crossings to facilitate active travel
* Ten upgraded bus stops with safe crossings across the county
* Five additional Safe Routes to School treatments
* Two minor safety improvement schemes on National Roads annually
* Extension of 30km/h speed limit zones in urban and built-up areas
* Periodic speed limits at schools on non-national roads

Longford County Council has also pledged continued investment in road maintenance programmes, low-cost safety schemes, traffic calming measures, safety barriers, and junction improvements across the county's 1,557 kilometres of regional and local roads.

Longford County Council commends the hard work and commitment of the Road Safety Working Together Group and all stakeholders who contributed to developing this plan. The collaborative approach brought together expertise from An Garda Síochána, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the Health Service Executive, the Road Safety Authority, the Department of Transport, Longford Sports Partnership, the Community Safety Partnership, and Comhairle na nÓg.

Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh said, "The national statistics in relation to road traffic accidents and fatalities paint a stark picture—these numbers represent not merely data points, but shattered families and communities torn apart. On behalf of Longford County Council's elected members, I pledge our unwavering commitment to this plan's implementation. County Longford stands ready to confront one of Ireland's most pressing challenges."

Chief Executive of Longford County Council Paddy Mahon said, "Road safety has moved beyond being simply a priority—it has become an urgent imperative that demands immediate and sustained action. Our ongoing investments in road improvements, footpath upgrades, and cycling infrastructure represent more than capital expenditure—they constitute a direct investment in human life and community wellbeing. Implementation begins now."

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The Road Safety Working Together Group will meet quarterly to oversee the plan's implementation, with annual progress reports presented to County Councillors at the Physical Development Strategic Policy Committee.

The new Road Safety Action Plan builds upon the foundations of the 2022-2024 strategy, which delivered 29 low-cost safety schemes and extensive road safety education programmes reaching hundreds of primary school children and Transition Year students.

The full Road Safety Action Plan 2025-2027 is available on the Longford County Council website.