WHAT WE DO:
PARC Road Safety Group provides a free information guide for families of victims of road traffic collisions.
It is called 'Finding Your Way'. Copyright 2012 © PARC Road Safety Group. NALA Plain English Awards 2016 - Highly commended document.
The 2019 edition was launched by Deputy Tommy Broughan TD at PARC's Remembrance Day Ceremony for Road Traffic Victims on 18th November 2018.
PARC Road Safety Group provides a free information guide for families of victims of road traffic collisions.
It is called 'Finding Your Way'. Copyright 2012 © PARC Road Safety Group. NALA Plain English Awards 2016 - Highly commended document.
The 2019 edition was launched by Deputy Tommy Broughan TD at PARC's Remembrance Day Ceremony for Road Traffic Victims on 18th November 2018.
Click on the booklet cover to view or download
Click here to see what families have said about 'Finding Your Way'
This free booklet 'Finding Your Way' is the first of its kind in Ireland and has achieved the Plain English Mark. The Garda Commissioner instructed Garda Family Liaison Officers throughout the country to distribute 'Finding Your Way' to all bereaved families.
Superintendents throughout the 26 counties have been issued with a supply of copies. If, for some reason you have failed to receive a copy from your family liaison officer, a copy is available from PARC Road Safety Group.
Click here to see what families have said about 'Finding Your Way'
This free booklet 'Finding Your Way' is the first of its kind in Ireland and has achieved the Plain English Mark. The Garda Commissioner instructed Garda Family Liaison Officers throughout the country to distribute 'Finding Your Way' to all bereaved families.
Superintendents throughout the 26 counties have been issued with a supply of copies. If, for some reason you have failed to receive a copy from your family liaison officer, a copy is available from PARC Road Safety Group.
| 2019_edition.pdf |
PARC supports families who have questions in relation to the information supplied in our free booklet 'Finding Your Way'.
PARC works with all relevant stakeholders to make our roads safer so that lives are preserved and injuries prevented. Through its research, PARC highlights many unsatisfactory practices and loopholes in road traffic legislation. See PARC Road Safety Group's campaigns.
PARC highlights road safety issues with the support of local and national media.
PARC commemorates World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims each year on the third Sunday of November.
PARC works with all relevant stakeholders to make our roads safer so that lives are preserved and injuries prevented. Through its research, PARC highlights many unsatisfactory practices and loopholes in road traffic legislation. See PARC Road Safety Group's campaigns.
PARC highlights road safety issues with the support of local and national media.
PARC commemorates World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims each year on the third Sunday of November.
Recent News
Statement by PARC Road Safety Group Wednesday, 17 July 2019
PARC’s analysis of raw data, supplied to Deputy Tommy Broughan by the Courts Service discovers a whopping 75% of motorists convicted of drink driving did not present their licence in court.
A whopping 90 per cent of those disqualified failed to surrender their licence to the Road Safety Authority.
PARC members started visiting District Courts in 2013 when it came to our attention that driving licences were not being handed up in court for the endorsement of penalty points and for disqualifications to be enforceable.
We had meetings with Brendan Ryan CEO of the Courts Service, several Ministers of Transport and the Road Safety Authority and brought our findings to their attention.
In 2015 the Department of Transport wrote to Mr Ryan reminding him of the law requiring drivers to present their licence in court and for the court to record the details to be transferred to Transports National Vehicle and Driver file. The letter stated .. “given the importance of the recording of the driver licence number for the proper implementation of the penalty point system, the Minister would appreciate if you would use every means possible to communicate the importance of recording the licence details, including drawing attention of court clerks to the requirement of Section 22 of the Road Traffic Act 2002…”
Some progress was then made when some courts began to record licence numbers on conviction.
Deputy Tommy Broughan relentlessly raised the issue in the Dáil and recently submitted a Parliamentary Question to determine the present state of affairs in the courts relating to speeding, drink driving and mobile phone offences.
On analysis of the Courts Service report this week our findings showed the best and worst rates of recording licence numbers on conviction.
The question must be asked - Why is there such a disparity in figures when we are talking about the same county, the same District Courts, the same Courts Service and the same laws?
12 July 2019 – Links to media coverage today regarding the 3 reports supplied to Deputy Tommy Broughan by the Courts Service relating to Drink driving, Speeding and Mobile phone offences and analysis by PARC.
RTE Morning Ireland on non-recording of licences on conviction and interview with Susan Gray of PARC https://www.rte.ie/radio1/morning-ireland/programmes/2019/0712/1061640-morning-ireland-friday-12-july-2019/?clipid=103155333#103155335
RTE 6.1 News - Driving licenses not recorded in court and interview with Aisling Reid of PARC on the group’s analysis of data from the Courts Service report. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1337020713112502
RTE Sean O Rourke - PARC on drivers not getting the penalty points due and the “completely unacceptable” delay in the scheduled rollout of mobile devices for frontline gardai due to budget problem. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speeding-drivers-getting-away-penalty-points-free/id698141459?i=1000444299162
Irish Examiner - https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/completely-unacceptable-road-safety-group-slams-delay-in-rollout-of-mobile-devices-for-gardai-936538.h
Irish Times - https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/two-thirds-of-speeding-convictions-may-not-have-resulted-in-penalty-points-1.3955136
Irish Independent - https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/concern-over-absolutely-incredible-disparities-of-almost-50pc-in-driver-license-recording-rates-38317575.html
13 May 2019 – 700 cars seized from unaccompanied learners but Garda Pulse system yet to be updated.https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/garda-seizing-seven-cars-a-day-from-learners-after-law-change-38104690.html
9 May 2019 - Cathy Reid of PARC on RTE 6.1 news on the death of her only son Karl who was killed by a disqualified driver.
PARC very much welcome the statement by the Commissioner which once again reassures us that gardai will soon be able to instantly identify banned drivers at roadside checks. For this to work the Transport Minister and the Road Safety Authority must accurately record all the drivers disqualified onto their databases and ensure there are no gaps in the information so that the gardai can do their job properly. https://www.rte.ie/news/player/six-one-news-web/2019/0509/
9 May 2019 - Susan Gray speaking on Prime Time about escalating problem of disqualified drivers not surrendering their licences to the RSA. Interview at 28:35 on clip. https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2019/0510/1048701-prime-time-broadband-row-high-rise-development-banned-drivers/
7 May 2019 - Very informative article by Ralph Riegel Irish Independent on disqualified drivers. All you need to know in this report. https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/only-10pc-of-irish-motorists-banned-from-driving-surrender-their-licences-38087240.html
March 2019 - Positive news for PARC following a campaign led by the family of Karl Robertson R.I.P - for mobile devices to be issued to all frontline gardai with the ability to instantly check, at the roadside, if a person is driving while disqualified.
A whopping 90 per cent of those disqualified failed to surrender their licence to the Road Safety Authority.
PARC members started visiting District Courts in 2013 when it came to our attention that driving licences were not being handed up in court for the endorsement of penalty points and for disqualifications to be enforceable.
We had meetings with Brendan Ryan CEO of the Courts Service, several Ministers of Transport and the Road Safety Authority and brought our findings to their attention.
In 2015 the Department of Transport wrote to Mr Ryan reminding him of the law requiring drivers to present their licence in court and for the court to record the details to be transferred to Transports National Vehicle and Driver file. The letter stated .. “given the importance of the recording of the driver licence number for the proper implementation of the penalty point system, the Minister would appreciate if you would use every means possible to communicate the importance of recording the licence details, including drawing attention of court clerks to the requirement of Section 22 of the Road Traffic Act 2002…”
Some progress was then made when some courts began to record licence numbers on conviction.
Deputy Tommy Broughan relentlessly raised the issue in the Dáil and recently submitted a Parliamentary Question to determine the present state of affairs in the courts relating to speeding, drink driving and mobile phone offences.
On analysis of the Courts Service report this week our findings showed the best and worst rates of recording licence numbers on conviction.
The question must be asked - Why is there such a disparity in figures when we are talking about the same county, the same District Courts, the same Courts Service and the same laws?
12 July 2019 – Links to media coverage today regarding the 3 reports supplied to Deputy Tommy Broughan by the Courts Service relating to Drink driving, Speeding and Mobile phone offences and analysis by PARC.
RTE Morning Ireland on non-recording of licences on conviction and interview with Susan Gray of PARC https://www.rte.ie/radio1/morning-ireland/programmes/2019/0712/1061640-morning-ireland-friday-12-july-2019/?clipid=103155333#103155335
RTE 6.1 News - Driving licenses not recorded in court and interview with Aisling Reid of PARC on the group’s analysis of data from the Courts Service report. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1337020713112502
RTE Sean O Rourke - PARC on drivers not getting the penalty points due and the “completely unacceptable” delay in the scheduled rollout of mobile devices for frontline gardai due to budget problem. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speeding-drivers-getting-away-penalty-points-free/id698141459?i=1000444299162
Irish Examiner - https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/completely-unacceptable-road-safety-group-slams-delay-in-rollout-of-mobile-devices-for-gardai-936538.h
Irish Times - https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/two-thirds-of-speeding-convictions-may-not-have-resulted-in-penalty-points-1.3955136
Irish Independent - https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/concern-over-absolutely-incredible-disparities-of-almost-50pc-in-driver-license-recording-rates-38317575.html
13 May 2019 – 700 cars seized from unaccompanied learners but Garda Pulse system yet to be updated.https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/garda-seizing-seven-cars-a-day-from-learners-after-law-change-38104690.html
9 May 2019 - Cathy Reid of PARC on RTE 6.1 news on the death of her only son Karl who was killed by a disqualified driver.
PARC very much welcome the statement by the Commissioner which once again reassures us that gardai will soon be able to instantly identify banned drivers at roadside checks. For this to work the Transport Minister and the Road Safety Authority must accurately record all the drivers disqualified onto their databases and ensure there are no gaps in the information so that the gardai can do their job properly. https://www.rte.ie/news/player/six-one-news-web/2019/0509/
9 May 2019 - Susan Gray speaking on Prime Time about escalating problem of disqualified drivers not surrendering their licences to the RSA. Interview at 28:35 on clip. https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2019/0510/1048701-prime-time-broadband-row-high-rise-development-banned-drivers/
7 May 2019 - Very informative article by Ralph Riegel Irish Independent on disqualified drivers. All you need to know in this report. https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/only-10pc-of-irish-motorists-banned-from-driving-surrender-their-licences-38087240.html
March 2019 - Positive news for PARC following a campaign led by the family of Karl Robertson R.I.P - for mobile devices to be issued to all frontline gardai with the ability to instantly check, at the roadside, if a person is driving while disqualified.
Karl Robertson R.I.P
On 9th March 2017 Karl Robertson (28) died in Beaumont Hospital after being critically injured in a hit and run involving a driver with three separate driving bans at the time. We believe that the inability of An Garda Síochána to identify disqualified drivers contributed to his death.
Karl’s family joined PARC and started their campaign for all front-line Gardai to be issued with handheld mobile devices with the ability to instantly check the status of a driving licence/vehicle at the roadside. Following the inquest into Karl’s death, where the jury recommended the roll out of these devices, Karl’s family called on the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Transport to extend the handheld devices, which formed part of a pilot project in Limerick, to all members of the Traffic Corps (Road Policing Units).
On 14th February 2019 PARC was informed by Garda HQ that 2,000 such devices will be issued to members of the Road Policing Units in 2019. We welcome this positive news which will no doubt save lives and prevent injuries on our roads into the future. Karl Robertson would, no doubt, be very proud of his family in their fight for better technology and equipment for our garda force, in his memory….
https://www.rte.ie/news/player/2018/0620/21386507-calls-for-mobile-devices-for-gardai-to-check-if-drivers-are-disqualified/
https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2018/0815/985278-karl-robertson-inquest/
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/devices-for-instant-roadside-checks-to-be-issued-to-2-000-garda%C3%AD-1.3797221
February 2019 - PARC welcomes testimonial received from Garda Commissioner following a recent meeting in Garda Headquarters.
Karl’s family joined PARC and started their campaign for all front-line Gardai to be issued with handheld mobile devices with the ability to instantly check the status of a driving licence/vehicle at the roadside. Following the inquest into Karl’s death, where the jury recommended the roll out of these devices, Karl’s family called on the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Transport to extend the handheld devices, which formed part of a pilot project in Limerick, to all members of the Traffic Corps (Road Policing Units).
On 14th February 2019 PARC was informed by Garda HQ that 2,000 such devices will be issued to members of the Road Policing Units in 2019. We welcome this positive news which will no doubt save lives and prevent injuries on our roads into the future. Karl Robertson would, no doubt, be very proud of his family in their fight for better technology and equipment for our garda force, in his memory….
https://www.rte.ie/news/player/2018/0620/21386507-calls-for-mobile-devices-for-gardai-to-check-if-drivers-are-disqualified/
https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2018/0815/985278-karl-robertson-inquest/
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/devices-for-instant-roadside-checks-to-be-issued-to-2-000-garda%C3%AD-1.3797221
February 2019 - PARC welcomes testimonial received from Garda Commissioner following a recent meeting in Garda Headquarters.
PARC members meet with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and his team
to discuss road safety issues.
Susan Gray presents Garda Commissioner Drew Harris with a copy of PARC’s latest edition of “Finding Your Way” -
a guide for families of road traffic victims, during the group's meeting in Garda HQ
to discuss road safety issues.
Susan Gray presents Garda Commissioner Drew Harris with a copy of PARC’s latest edition of “Finding Your Way” -
a guide for families of road traffic victims, during the group's meeting in Garda HQ
Cathy Reid, Susan Gray, Commissioner Drew Harris, Noel Clancy and Aisling Reid