asked the Minister for the Environment the research, if any, which has been undertaken in the last three years into measures to reduce casualties from road accidents.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Accidents.
19.
Research relating to road accidents in this country is centred on establishing total casualty figures with particular emphasis on identifying the main causes of the accidents, the risk factors associated with each of the identified road user categories and devising appropriate countermeasures.
This ongoing programme is related to the annual "Road Accident Facts Ireland" publication which is prepared by the Environmental Research Unit on the basis of reports compiled by the gardaí. Copies of these annual publications are available in the Oireachtas Library.
As a result of the assessment of these reports, the appropriateness of specific measures targeted at reducing child, pedestrian, pedal cycle, motor cycle and lorry casualties are examined on a continuing basis.
Research relates to a wide range of areas including the locations of accident blackspots, monitoring of the skid resistance, regularity and intrinsic strength of road surfaces, extent of seat belt usage, speed limits, cycle priority measures, use of laminated windscreens, side guards, rear under-run devices, special traffic warning signs at approaches to schools, "rumble strips" and "long-vehicle" signs for heavy goods vehicles.
Is the Minister in effect telling the House that the major research carried out in his Department on the question of casualties from road accidents is the monitoring of statistics in connection with road accidents? Can the Minister tell the House exactly how much his Department have spent in carrying out this research, the positive results which have emanated from it, the action being taken to bring about a reduction in road casualties, the action being taken in relation to drunk driving, providing rumble strips, lay-bys, the control of articulated trucks, etc.? What are the results of the research? How much money is being spent on research? What is being done as a result of research? Would the Minister agree that furnishing statistics will not save one child from being knocked down and injured on the road?
The evidence for some time past is that the returns on the number of road accidents in Ireland bear a favourable comparison with returns from EC countries. In 1987, the last year for which full figures are available, the ratio of road deaths per 10,000 of the population is 1.3, which is lower than the Community average of 1.5. Only Holland and the United Kingdom had a lower ratio.
Is the Minister saying that he is satisfied with the present position and nothing further needs to be done? Could the Minister tell us how much money is being spent in his Department on research?
I am unable to give the Deputy the figure of what is being spent on research. However, the Deputy can appreciate that we would like to see fewer road accidents. With traffic controls and traffic wardens and through our advertising campaign we have tried to bring about a position where road accident figures are as low as they possibly can be.
Would the Minister accept that to say our statistics are as good as other European countries indicates that in his mind there is an acceptable level of traffic casualties? Would the Minister further agree that it must be our aim to reduce the number of casualties on our roads? Would the Minister indicate whether he and the Department intend to take any new initiatives? For example, is it intended to make the wearing of seat belts in the back seats of cars compulsory? Does the Minister intend to take any special measures to deal with drunk driving?
The Deputy is extending the scope of the question out of all proportion.
Is the Minister aware that the reduction in the number of gardaí available on the streets means that there are more drunk drivers on our roads and that more people are dying on our roads——
This is out of the range of the subject.
Has the Minister proposals of any nature to tackle this problem?
In reply to the first part of the Deputy's question, nobody could be happy with the accident ratio. However, it is our intention to improve it as best we can. We have laws on drunk driving and it is a matter for the law to enforce them. As I pointed out already, we now employ school wardens. We launched an advertising campaign which has increased public awareness. The Garda implement the speed limits. We have laws to take the necessary action——
What if the Garda do not enforce them?
We will examine the situation to see what further improvements we can make.
Would the Minister consider making it compulsory to have seat belts in the back seats of cars?
We will look at that suggestion.
Is the Minister aware of the growing practice among parents to carry the infant, often in a polystyrene seat, in the front seat of the car? Has the Minister any research information, either of his own or made available to him on this matter? Have the Department made any public statement on this practice?
Yes, we would be alarmed and concerned at the practice of children sitting in the front of the car.
Could you issue a directive?
I hope that parents would use their commonsense.
Should you not prohibit this?
I appeal to them to do that.
Are there any plans to reduce the level of traffic counts that are necessary to justify the funding of traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and school wardens, which have been considered necessary by the local authorities but will not be funded by the Department of the Environment because of the high level of counts required?
If the Deputy puts down a question, I will give him a very comprehensive reply.