A renewed focus on road safety education and tougher enforcement of e-scooter and e-bike regulations are among the most immediate changes Galway residents can expect following the launch of a new road safety strategy this week.

Galway’s first Road Safety Strategy was unveiled at County Hall this week as part of a collaborative effort aimed at reducing serious injuries and deaths on the region’s roads.

The strategy outlines 50 actions for Galway’s road safety and safer road use, including enforcement to achieve a 15pc decrease in deaths and serious injury by next year and 50pc decrease by 2030.

The strategy was developed by Galway City Council and Galway County Council in partnership with the Road Safety Authority (RSA), Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), An Garda Síochána, the HSE and the fire service.

Speaking to the Irish Independent at the launch, Galway City Council Administrative Officer Martin Kenny outlined some of the measures road users are likely to notice in the coming months.

“You’ve got the likes of improvements across the city and county,” he said, explaining that RSA teams and local authority road safety officers will be visiting schools and community groups to raise awareness of national road safety campaigns while promoting local initiatives.

Mr Kenny also said motorists and road users can expect an increased Garda presence, which includes enhanced enforcement targeting e-scooters, e-bikes and scramblers.

Measures outlined in the strategy include the use of Garda checkpoints to identify and seize illegal bikes, scooters and scramblers through the use of dynamometers. A dynamometer is a resource which measures force and power. In the case of an e-bike, the device can assess speed capability and performance by placing the vehicle on a rolling platform.

“They’re investing in more of these devices and they’ll be rolled out across the city and county,” Mr Kenny said.

He added that the strategy also contains longer-term engineering measures, including road improvement projects and the installation of additional safety barriers.

Data will begin to be gathered and will be reviewed by the Road Safety Together Committee, which comprises senior officials and representatives from the partner agencies, in December.

Mr Kenny said updates arising from those meetings will be made available to the public as the strategy progresses.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting scheme.