RSA Launches Biggest-Ever College Road Safety Education Programme

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) today launches its largest-ever college road safety education programme, kicking off at University College Dublin’s Freshers Week.

Over the next seven weeks, the RSA team will visit 23 third-level institutions nationwide, bringing interactive, engaging, and practical road safety experiences directly to students.

This marks the RSA’s first major Freshers Week initiative and represents a significant investment in third-level road safety education. The programme is designed to engage, inspire, and empower young adults to make safer choices on Ireland’s roads – both as drivers and as passengers.

Students will take part in immersive and hands-on activities that highlight the risks of drink and drug driving, tiredness, distraction, and not wearing a seatbelt. These include:

•     Drink & Drug Driving Goggles – simulating the effects of impairment on judgment, coordination, and reaction times.

•     VR Headsets – giving students a 360° view of the real-world consequences of dangerous driving.

•     Breathalyser Units – showing how easily people misjudge their alcohol levels.

•     High-visibility giveaways – encouraging students to stay safe when walking or cycling, especially at night.

Fatalities among younger people remains a serious problem on Irish roads. This year, one in five fatalities have been aged between 16 and 25.

The programme tackles common myths around drink and drug driving, giving students clear, evidence-based facts to help them make safer decisions.

RSA Chief Executive Sam Waide said: “Young people are at the heart of Ireland’s road safety story. Through this new programme, we’re meeting students where they are – on campus, during Freshers Week – and giving them the tools, knowledge, and confidence to make safer choices. 

By combining immersive experiences with open conversations, we want to shift mindsets and build a culture where looking after yourself and your friends on the road becomes second nature. Every decision behind the wheel matters, and every student has the power to influence safer roads.”

RSA third-level educators will act as ambassadors on campus, building trusted relationships with students, student unions, and educators. They will create safe spaces for discussion, challenge risky behaviours, and support peer-to-peer communication, ensuring that the road safety message spreads through student networks.

Sam Waide added: “By bringing this ambitious initiative to colleges across Ireland, the RSA is working towards long-term cultural change – where road safety is embraced as a shared responsibility among young adults.”