Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 5

Written Answers. - Fatal Road Accidents.

Máirín Quill

Question:

43 Miss Quill asked the Minister for the Environment the number of fatal road accidents here in the first nine months of 1996; the percentage increase over this period in 1995; and the action, if any, he proposes to take in this regard. [21124/96]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment (Ms McManus)

Provisional Garda figures for the first nine months of 1996 show that there were 302 fatal accidents in that period in which 330 people were killed, compared to 291 fatal accidents in 1995 in which 315 people were killed.

The level of road casualties, and especially the increase in the last two years, is a matter of serious concern, but there is no easy solution to the problem and it takes time for new measures to achieve positive results. A combination of efforts by all of the public and private agencies involved, and by all road users, is of the utmost importance if we are to reduce the number of accidents. A new national road safety campaign was launched in May with a focus on all responsible agencies — my Department, the Department of Justice and the Garda; the National Roads Authority; the National Safety Council; and the local authorities — working together with the road user to increase the effectiveness of their enforcement, education, engineering and encouragement measures. Side by side with this, existing measures must be maintained; these include constant media advertising, education of road users, especially children, and improvements to our road network.

New measures which have been introduced this year include the publication of a Guide to Road Safety Engineering; new radio and TV advertisements by the National Safety Council; an enhanced role for local authorities in promoting road safety at local level; the establishment of a voluntary register of driving instructors; and the introduction of on-the-spot fines for speeding offences. Further measures which are proposed include the introduction of a theory test for new drivers, the publication of a comprehensive traffic signs manual for local authorities and the introduction of new traffic regulations.