which is the first such deal between two EU member states, will come into effect in February 2010. In 2011 RTÉ revealed that individuals in some of the National Car Testing Service centres could issue an NCT car safety certificate on payment of €100 for cars with serious safety defects. The tests are subcontracted to and conducted by Applus. In June 2011 Ireland's improvement in reducing road safety fatalities enabled it to be ranked in sixth place for road safety in the EU. The RSA stated: "The number of Irish road deaths fell to 212 in 2010, the lowest level on record, down 26 from 2009. The Government’s road safety target of achieving no more than 252 deaths per annum by the end of 2012 was achieved three years ahead of schedule." On 5 October 2011, the RSA announced a joint venture with the Irish Tyre Industry Association with the intention of promoting a "tyre safety" week. Two days later the RSA issued a fresh announcement distancing itself from the practical demonstration of vehicle stopping distances it had earlier endorsed after it was alleged that one of the test vehicles used in the tyre safety demonstration had had its ABS braking system disabled. In 2012, the RSA, having been consulted to offer an opinion on a TV advertisement for Meteor (a mobile telephone service provider), concluded that "they were of the view that the advertisement promoted highly dangerous road user behaviour". The advertisement included a comedic segment showing a cyclist following a bus to receive free wifi. Whilst the cyclist depicted in the Meteor ad was wearing a helmet, he was using a mobile phone whilst riding a bicycle. RSA Reports RSA 2010 Annual report RSA's commitments under the Croke Park Agreement The Road Safety Authority's Customer Charter updated: http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/About%20Us/Customer_Charter_RSA_WEB.pdf References External links Road Safety Authority Road safety Government agencies of the Republic of Ireland Road transport in the Republic of Ireland Road safety in the Republic of Ireland Department of Transport (Ireland)