Kerry County Council is set to roll out a national road safety conference on 28 and 29 May to discuss the latest research, strategies, technologies and policies aimed at reducing road-related collisions, fatalities and injuries, and to share resources and ideas on the best way forward to help improve road safety across Ireland.
The two-day ‘Safer Roads’ conference, which takes place at Killarney’s Gleneagle INEC Arena, will be attended by road safety professionals, speakers and service providers from Ireland, other EU countries and the UK.
These will include transportation experts, government and local authority officials, roads policing and vehicle inspection agencies, road safety advocates, educators and promoters, collision responders, cycling bodies and community safety networks.
The inter-agency conference will focus on improving road safety, reducing traffic-related incidents, and sharing knowledge and best practices for safer road use. It encompasses various strategies and efforts across multiple domains, including road design, engineering, enforcement, forensic collision investigation, technology, education, collision trends, occupational driving, e-mobility, active and sustainable travel, and on-road events.
In addition, AI, Virtual Reality and Driver Simulation will also play a significant role at the conference, in improving safety by predicting and preventing accidents, optimising traffic, and aiding the development of autonomous vehicles.
According to Frank Hartnett, Director of Services for Roads & Transport at Kerry County Council, this milestone event will be “an opportunity for a world class community that shares a passion, dedication and desire to excel in road safety to learn and share”.
He said that the safety of our roads is not the responsibility of one organisation, but that of all stakeholders and road users. “Through working together, sharing our knowledge, expertise, and experience, we aim to develop a safer environment for all road users,” he added.
Kerry County Council officials (l-r): Executive Engineer Vincent Foley, Assistant Staff Officer Deirdre Moynihan, Director Frank Hartnett, Staff Officer Margaret O’Sullivan and Senior Executive Engineer Brian O’Connor.
