asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the unwelcome and tragic increase in the number of deaths and serious personal injuries following accidents on our roads, he will consider the introduction of a special police traffic corps or any other measure designed to give greater protection to all our road users; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Police Traffic Corps.
95.
While there is still great cause for concern about the very tragic road accidents that occur all too frequently, it is not correct to suggest, as this question does, that there has been an increase in the number of deaths and serious personal injuries arising from such accidents. In fact, I am glad to say, there has been a substantial decrease in the number of deaths due to road accidents over recent years. In 1978, for example, the figure was 628. The figures for the last three complete years show a very welcome reduction — 535 in 1983;465 in 1984 and 410 in 1985 and there is good reason to hope that this downward trend will be maintained in the present year. Provisional figures issued by the Garda Commissioner for the first nine months of this year show that the number of persons killed in road accidents is 266, as compared to a figure of 314 for the same period in 1985. I am glad to say too that numbers of serious injury cases also continue to decline.
I need hardly say that the figures I have quoted, while showing an improving situation, give absolutely no grounds for complacency. I believe that very many of the tragic accidents that occur are avoidable through the exercise of still greater care by all road users.
As regards the suggestion that a special police traffic crops should be set up, the Garda Traffic Corps are, of course, already established and operating in all Garda divisions.
The Garda Síochána can be relied upon to continue to discharge the vital role they have in relation to the protection of road users. I wish to make the point, however, without in any way diminishing the contribution that the gardai have to make in this area, that road safety is a matter for which we must all be prepared to accept our own share of responsibility.