John Gormley
Question:55 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the current strategy in relation to reducing road traffic deaths. [29552/00]
Vol. 528 No. 1
55 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the current strategy in relation to reducing road traffic deaths. [29552/00]
60 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when legislation to provide for a penalty points system for road traffic offences will be published; if the Bill will be published before the end of 2000, as indicated to Dáil Éireann on 8 November 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29444/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 60 together.
The Government Strategy for Road Safety 1998-2002 has prioritised a systematic and co-ordinated set of measures for preventing and reducing road accidents. It establishes quantified targets for achieving its objectives, the principal of which is to reduce road deaths and serious injuries each by at least 20% by 2002 relative to 1997. Priority is accorded by the strategy to actions targeted at speeding, alcohol and seat belt wearing. A timetable for key actions in these and other areas is also set out.
The Government strategy is monitored by the high level group on road safety whose first progress report published in July 1999 and second progress report published in August 2000 detail progress with key actions. Copies of both reports have been circulated to all Deputies and are also available in the Oireachtas Library.
Good progress has been made in the first two years of the strategy period in relation to its primary targets. By end 1999, road deaths had been reduced by nearly 13% relative to 1997 and serious injuries from road accidents had been reduced by over 15%. Progress is also ahead of target in extending low cost accident measures across the national road network, with nearly 300 schemes now likely to be completed by the end 2000. On the other hand, recent NRA surveys have shown that considerable improvement will be needed in order to achieve road safety targets for the reduction of speeding and an increase in seat belt wearing.