Vol. 457 No. 7
3 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment the reports, if any, he has received from the appropriate authorities on the alarming increase in the levels of deaths and injuries from road accidents over the last four months. [16014/95]
5 Miss Quill asked the Minister for the Environment the analysis, if any, that has been carried out of the causes of road fatalities in the first ten months of 1995; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16340/95]
179 Miss Quill asked the Minister for the Environment the number of fatal road deaths in the first ten months of 1995; and the number of such deaths of men under 31 years, men under 21 years, women under 31 years and women under 21 years of age. [16325/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 3, 5 and 179 together.
I am deeply concerned at the rise in road casualties which has been recorded over the past few months. Provisional statistics prepated by the Garda show that, in the six months to the end of June, there was a significant reduction in the number of fatalities, while the number of those injured increased marginally. This represented a continuation of the trend which has been in evidence since 1991.
The latest returns available from the Garda relate to the period July to September and show a marked increase in road deaths by comparison with the corresponding period in 1994. As a result, the provisional figures for the first nine months of the year indicate that 315 people died in road accidents, as compared with 294 in the comparable period of 1994. The early indications are that the provisional figure for October will be approximately the same as that for October 1994.
I have asked the National Roads Authority, in conjunction with the Garda Síochána, to carry out an urgent examination of the increased number of accidents which occured in recent months and to identify whether any particular factors may be involved. I expect to receive the results in the near future and will review, at that stage, what additional action may be possible in our continued effort to reverse this trend. I have already been in touch with the Minister for Justice about the need to give high priority to traffic law enforcement in the coming months.
The provisional Garda statistics do not give the age profile of victims in 1995 but I expect information on this to emerge from the NRA-Garda examination of the data which I have requested. A full analysis of the age of victims will be carried out in the preparation of Road Accident Facts 1995 which will be published by the National Roads Authority as early as possible in 1996.
I thank the Minister for his reply. In light of the recent significant increase in the number of deaths I am disturbed that the Minister does not have more information available to him from the NRA and the Garda. I note from a question answered on 11 October that the Minister had already sought that information, and I acknowledge his concern in this regard, but he did not mention in his reply the road surfaces factor which was raised by my colleague, Deputy O'Hanlon. Has there been any further investigation into the damage done to the roads during the summer due to the very hot weather and the consequent problems that might cause? Is this seen as a factor in the increase in deaths on the roads during this particular period?
I am anxious to find what factors would contribute to the unwelcome increase in road deaths. The first six months of this year were very satisfactory following the trend of recent years and while we must not be complacent, we are moving in the right direction. The figures for the summer months, continued into September, were most disappointing. A number of factors are being examined. The traffic volumes on the roads in the summer months were much higher than the comparable figures for last year. The reasonable position put forward by Deputy O'Hanlon during the last Question Time in relation to the effect of the very hot summer weather on the traction of the road surfaces is being examined in the review I have requested.
It is unsatisfactory that more detailed information is not available at this stage. Does the Minister accept that it is impossible to frame a suitable response without information on why there is such an unacceptably high number of deaths on roads and whether these are caused by excessive speed, defective vehicles, poor roadcraft or a combination of these factors? Is it his information that road accidents are the main cause of death among young people.
Obviously I am concerned about the figures, particularly as they affect young people. I cannot say whether road traffic accidents are the main cause of death among young people but I would not be surprised if this were the case. Deputy Quill listed some of the contributing factors but an analysis of accident statistics is difficult in the short-term as a number of factors contribute to individual accidents and it will take some time before a total pattern emerges. In a total review of the matter I have looked at a number of initiatives I can take to deal with some of the issues referred to by the Deputy and other matters. I wish to outline for the benefit of the House some of the measures I propose to take between now and next year in an effort to ensure that there is a comprehensive approach to reducing the horrific toll of accidents and deaths on roads.
I have had discussions with relevant bodies on the development of a voluntary register of trained driving instructors to increase the standard and quality of instruction available to new drivers. I intend to review the driving test, to introduce a more comprehensive theory test next year and to launch a new comprehensive traffic signs manual for the guidance of local authorities so as to ensure simplification and clarity in regard to road signs. I also intend to launch a manual relating to low cost remedial measures for accident blackspots and my Department has assured me that this will be ready by March next year. I propose to introduce a comprehensive new set of traffic regulations next year. I hope that these measures and the significant capital injection into the roads network at county and national level will reduce the horrific toll of deaths and accidents which are deplored by all Deputies.
In regard to the statistics and the report, has the Minister requested a breakdown on the times at which these accidents occured? Will he request information on the death toll on dual carriageways and national primary and secondary routes as opposed to that on county roads?
Those matters will form part of the review and the details will be included in the data which I will make available to Deputies as soon as possible.
Does the Minister accept that a number of the national secondary routes are seriously below standard? Does he intend to carry out a survey to establish the compliance of those routes within minimum safety standards?
A later question deals specifically with national secondary routes and hopefully we will reach it. In general, I am anxious to ensure that the highest level of safety prevails on all roads. This means having adequate surfaces on county, regional, national secondary and national primary roads. The level of investment in these roads in 1995 is unprecedented in the history of the State.
I asked the Minister if he had carried out a survey. At one stage such surveys were carried out by An Foras Forbartha and I would like to know what organisation, if any, now carries out surveys on the minimum safety standards which ought to apply on roads.
Depending on the category of road——
I refer to secondary roads.
The National Roads Authority is responsible for national primary and national secondary roads and it monitors these on a constant basis. This year, for the first time, it has received a ring-fenced sum of money to improve safety measures on the national roads system.
