The Work

Road Safety Officers strive to reduce casualties on the road through education, training and publicity. They target is all road users, regardless of age.  
 
Road safety officers look into the reasons for accidents, with a view to recommending preventative measures. Measures can include developing road safety educational programmes in schools, giving presentations to community groups and staging exhibitions and publicity campaigns.  
 
In these and many other aspects of their work, they consult and co-operate with elected councillors, road engineers and surveyors, schools, the police, employers and community groups.  
 
Some road safety officers are generalists, responsible for all activities in a particular region, others may be responsible for a specialist aspect of road safety such as publicity, or visiting secondary schools. In both cases, their visits to schools, day centres, and other places involve some local travel.  
 
In the Dublin region the RSO is responsible for the administration and supervision of the School Warden Service. They interview and train successful applicants. Staff employed as part-time RSO's in other counties may not have this additional responsibility.

Further Information

• Road Safety Officer - from: Advanced Safety - Safety in Knowledge

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

School leavers with a good basic standard of education may enter directly. Some applicants may hold a degree or have a background in areas such as: Engineering, Teaching, Entry requirements vary between local authorities Local Authorities Map. 

Previous Experience: Experience with the Gardai or Management.  
 
Training may be carried out on-the-job by experienced staff and is regularly updated. Promotion may take place from within the Road Safety Department i.e. from supervisor, to assistant Road safety officer, to road safety officer.  

Training & Development 

FET Centre PLC: Engineering, Teaching/ Facilitation, Marketing & Public relations NFQ Level 5-6 Search our FET PLC coursefinder 

Higher Education CAO Entry: Engineering, Teaching, Marketing & Public relations NFQ Level 6-8 Search our CAO coursefinder 

Last Updated: March, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €28k - €41k

Salaries Vary by employer, location, role, duties, shift pattern, and experience.

Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Indeed/ LGMA/ Gov.ie/ PSA

Last Updated: February, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The changes in classification as a result of the introduction of the new Labour Force Survey in 2017 are partly responsible for the strong employment growth rate for this occupation, although employment also grew strongly between 2019 and 2020, and continued to grow in 2022. Those employed are primarily female (69%), working full-time (90%), and over half (55%) held third-level qualifications. With a higher than average share of persons employed aged 55 years and older (31% compared to 19% for all occupations), replacement demand is likely to result in opportunities opening up for these roles even if employment growth slows.

There was a significant number of vacancies advertised online for clerical officer roles across the civil service and Government administration roles. However, recent job hires for 2022 far exceeded employment growth indicating that job churn is a feature of this occupation. While job openings are set to continue, upskilling and reskilling may also be required for those already employed in these occupations in order to reach targets set out in the Civil Service Renewal Plan 2024 in areas such as in digital skills.

• Public Appointments Service

  • Chapter House, 26/30 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1, D01 C7W6
  • (01) 858 7400 or Local: 1890 44 9999
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Transport Infrastructure Ireland

  • Parkgate Business Centre, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8
  • (01) 646 3600
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Road Safety Authority (RSA)

  • Moy Business Park, Primrose Hill, Ballina, Co.Mayo
  • (096) 25000 / LoCall 1890 506080
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here