Initiative details
Training local authorities, safety auditors, and consultants to understand and implement Safe System principles on Irish road projects. The Safe System approach, which aims to eliminate death and serious injury on roads, requires a fundamental shift in thinking—from blaming individual road users to designing a transport system that anticipates human error and minimizes its consequences. Many professionals involved in road planning and safety in Ireland may not yet be fully familiar with this paradigm or how to apply it effectively in practice. This creates a gap between policy aspirations and on-the-ground implementation. Training must therefore go beyond theoretical understanding; it must equip stakeholders with practical tools, case studies, and methodologies tailored to the Irish context. Additionally, integrating Safe System thinking into all stages of road project development—from planning and design to construction and maintenance—requires cross-sector collaboration and a shared commitment to safety. Overcoming institutional inertia, aligning with existing regulations, and ensuring consistent application across local authorities are further hurdles. Addressing these challenges through targeted education, continuous professional development, and supportive policy frameworks is essential to embedding Safe System principles into Ireland’s road safety culture and achieving long-term reductions in road trauma.
Initiative date
to
Who was/is your target audience?
Public authorities
Topic
Improve vehicles and infrastructure
Knowledge building and sharing
Provide alternative solutions
Training
Organisation details
Transport Infrastructure Ireland
Local Public authority
Ireland
Natioanl Roads
Contact name
Alastair de Beer
Telephone number
0868320303
alastair.debeer@tii.ie
Website link
Project activities
If you work together with external partners, list the most important partners and briefly describe their role.
ATU Sligo - TII Road Safety has worked with ATU Sligo in developing the Road Safety Engineering and Audit Course and TII was on the consortium for the Apprenticeship in Civil Engineering developed by them.
Engineers Ireland, TU Dublin and Arup in setting up the Safety Barrier and Geometric Design Course,
Engineers Ireland, TU Dublin and Arup in setting up the Safety Barrier and Geometric Design Course,
Please describe the project activities you carried/are carrying out and the time period over which these were implemented.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) Road Safety has demonstrated strong leadership in advancing road safety education and capacity-building across Ireland. In collaboration with key partners, TII has developed and delivered a range of high-impact training initiatives aimed at upskilling local authorities, consultants, and safety auditors in Safe System principles and best practices.
Over the past year alone, more than 5200 hours training has been provided to professionals who have benefited from TII-supported training. Highlights include a Level 9 Road Safety Audit and Engineering Course, developed with ATU Sligo, which meets the academic requirements for a Certificate of Competence. TII also partnered with Traffico to deliver a three-day Practical Road Safety Audit Course and hosted a national Road Safety Seminar attended by over 300 practitioners.
TII continues to lead with innovative programs such as the Vehicle Restraint System Design Training—developed a decade ago and still going strong in partnership with Engineers Ireland and Arup—and a four-day Geometry Design Course focused on Safe System road design. TII is also working with the Office of the Planning Regulator to create a Safe System Design course for planners.
Additionally, TII Road Safety staff are actively involved in training local authorities on implementing speed limit reviews, average speed camera systems, and urban design principles, reinforcing their commitment to safer roads nationwide.
TII Road Safety also co-sponsored and attended the Kerry Road Safety Conference in May 2025 and was on the consortium to develop the Apprenticeship in Civil Engineering with ATU Sligo.
Over the past year alone, more than 5200 hours training has been provided to professionals who have benefited from TII-supported training. Highlights include a Level 9 Road Safety Audit and Engineering Course, developed with ATU Sligo, which meets the academic requirements for a Certificate of Competence. TII also partnered with Traffico to deliver a three-day Practical Road Safety Audit Course and hosted a national Road Safety Seminar attended by over 300 practitioners.
TII continues to lead with innovative programs such as the Vehicle Restraint System Design Training—developed a decade ago and still going strong in partnership with Engineers Ireland and Arup—and a four-day Geometry Design Course focused on Safe System road design. TII is also working with the Office of the Planning Regulator to create a Safe System Design course for planners.
Additionally, TII Road Safety staff are actively involved in training local authorities on implementing speed limit reviews, average speed camera systems, and urban design principles, reinforcing their commitment to safer roads nationwide.
TII Road Safety also co-sponsored and attended the Kerry Road Safety Conference in May 2025 and was on the consortium to develop the Apprenticeship in Civil Engineering with ATU Sligo.
In terms of implementation, what worked well and what challenges did you need to overcome?
One of the most impactful improvements in road safety training has been the transition of the Road Safety Audit and Engineering course to an online format in 2019. Previously delivered in person over 10 full days in Dublin, the course posed a significant time and travel burden for busy professionals. Moving it online allowed participants to complete the training in the evenings, minimizing disruption to their daily work. This flexibility has significantly increased accessibility and participation, including from international students, and proved especially valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Another major success has been TII’s pioneering development of the world’s first safety barrier course specifically designed for road designers. Before this, training in this area was limited to contractors, leaving a critical knowledge gap in the design phase. The course has helped reduce poor construction practices on-site and has greatly improved industry-wide understanding of safety barriers. Importantly, it also emphasizes the concept of “forgiving roadsides,” encouraging designers to consider when barriers are necessary—and when they are not.
Another major success has been TII’s pioneering development of the world’s first safety barrier course specifically designed for road designers. Before this, training in this area was limited to contractors, leaving a critical knowledge gap in the design phase. The course has helped reduce poor construction practices on-site and has greatly improved industry-wide understanding of safety barriers. Importantly, it also emphasizes the concept of “forgiving roadsides,” encouraging designers to consider when barriers are necessary—and when they are not.
Evaluation
Please summarise how you have evaluated the initiative’s impact (e.g. social media reach, survey, feedback forms, statistics).
The effectiveness of TII’s road safety training initiatives is evaluated through several key metrics, with man-hours of training being a primary indicator. Over the past 12 months alone, more than 5,200 man-hours of training have been recorded, reflecting both the scale and sustained engagement with the programs. This metric helps quantify the reach and intensity of training delivered across various professional groups, including local authorities, consultants, and auditors.
In addition to quantitative measures, the alignment of these initiatives with national policy is a critical benchmark. Training in Safe System principles is explicitly included in TII’s remit under the Government Road Safety Strategy, ensuring that the programs contribute directly to broader national safety goals. This strategic alignment reinforces the relevance and importance of the training content.
Another strong indicator of success is the longevity and continued demand for certain courses. Some of TII’s training programs, such as the Vehicle Restraint System Design course, are now in their 10th year and remain consistently fully booked, demonstrating their ongoing value and effectiveness. This sustained interest suggests that the courses are meeting industry needs and maintaining high standards of delivery, further validating their impact on improving road safety outcomes across Ireland.
In addition to quantitative measures, the alignment of these initiatives with national policy is a critical benchmark. Training in Safe System principles is explicitly included in TII’s remit under the Government Road Safety Strategy, ensuring that the programs contribute directly to broader national safety goals. This strategic alignment reinforces the relevance and importance of the training content.
Another strong indicator of success is the longevity and continued demand for certain courses. Some of TII’s training programs, such as the Vehicle Restraint System Design course, are now in their 10th year and remain consistently fully booked, demonstrating their ongoing value and effectiveness. This sustained interest suggests that the courses are meeting industry needs and maintaining high standards of delivery, further validating their impact on improving road safety outcomes across Ireland.
What has been the effect of the activities?
TII’s road safety training courses have had a significant and lasting impact on the road and transport industry in Ireland. By embedding Safe System principles into professional development, these courses have helped shift the focus from reactive safety measures to proactive, system-wide thinking. This has led to the design and delivery of safer roads, where human error is anticipated and its consequences minimized.
The training equips professionals—engineers, planners, auditors, and consultants—with the knowledge and tools needed to apply best practices in road safety. This has raised the overall standard of road design and audit processes across the country. Courses such as the Vehicle Restraint System Design and Geometry Design training have improved understanding of critical safety infrastructure and encouraged more thoughtful, evidence-based decision-making.
TII’s involvement in international collaborations, particularly through the Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR), has further enriched the training content. By incorporating global insights and innovations, the courses ensure that Irish professionals are aligned with international best practice and remain at the forefront of road safety developments.
Overall, these training initiatives have fostered a more informed, safety-conscious industry, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement and helping Ireland move closer to its long-term road safety goals.
The training equips professionals—engineers, planners, auditors, and consultants—with the knowledge and tools needed to apply best practices in road safety. This has raised the overall standard of road design and audit processes across the country. Courses such as the Vehicle Restraint System Design and Geometry Design training have improved understanding of critical safety infrastructure and encouraged more thoughtful, evidence-based decision-making.
TII’s involvement in international collaborations, particularly through the Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR), has further enriched the training content. By incorporating global insights and innovations, the courses ensure that Irish professionals are aligned with international best practice and remain at the forefront of road safety developments.
Overall, these training initiatives have fostered a more informed, safety-conscious industry, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement and helping Ireland move closer to its long-term road safety goals.
Please briefly explain why your initiative is a good example of improving road safety.
This initiative is a strong example of improving road safety through targeted, high-quality professional training. By embedding Safe System principles into structured learning programs, TII has helped create a more informed and safety-conscious industry. The courses are practical, evidence-based, and aligned with both national strategies and international best practices, ensuring that professionals are equipped to design and manage safer roads.
Other organisations or countries could adopt a similar model by:
Partnering with academic institutions and industry experts
Aligning training with national road safety strategies
Offering flexible, accessible formats (e.g., online, hybrid)
Incorporating international knowledge through networks like CEDR
Other organisations or countries could adopt a similar model by:
Partnering with academic institutions and industry experts
Aligning training with national road safety strategies
Offering flexible, accessible formats (e.g., online, hybrid)
Incorporating international knowledge through networks like CEDR
How have you shared information about your project and its results?
TII has actively shared information about its road safety training initiatives through a variety of effective communication channels. These include:
National Conferences: TII has presented its training programs and outcomes at major road safety and infrastructure conferences in Ireland, helping to raise awareness and encourage knowledge exchange among industry professionals and policymakers.
Partner Websites and Social Media: Collaborating organisations such as Engineers Ireland, Arup, and academic institutions like ATU Sligo also promote the training through their own websites and social media platforms. This multi-channel approach ensures that information reaches a diverse and relevant audience.
National Conferences: TII has presented its training programs and outcomes at major road safety and infrastructure conferences in Ireland, helping to raise awareness and encourage knowledge exchange among industry professionals and policymakers.
Partner Websites and Social Media: Collaborating organisations such as Engineers Ireland, Arup, and academic institutions like ATU Sligo also promote the training through their own websites and social media platforms. This multi-channel approach ensures that information reaches a diverse and relevant audience.