Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Oct 1998

Vol. 495 No. 4

Written Answers. - Road Traffic Accidents.

Enda Kenny

Question:

24 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of people who have died or were injured in traffic accidents for each month in 1998; the number of GATSO vehicles in operation; the additional powers, if any, he proposes giving to the Garda to deal with the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20229/98]

Michael Ferris

Question:

55 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures, if any, he will take to ensure effective enforcement of road traffic laws to reduce the high number of road deaths; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20265/98]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 55 and 350 together.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following number of people died or were injured in traffic accidents for each month in 1998 for which statistics are available i.e. up to 31 August:

Month	Killed	Seriously Injured	Minor Injury
January	35	114	616
February	29	171	558
March	22	133	653
April	47	223	687
May	33	150	727
June	42	162	691
July	40	169	759
August	40	146	713
Total	288	1,268	5,404

Provisional figures for the period 1 January 1998 to 19 October 1998 show that 355 persons were killed in 310 fatal road accidents.

I wish to assure the Deputies that the Government and the Garda authorities are determined to confront the unacceptably high level of deaths and injuries on our roads. The Deputy will be aware the Government launched the national strategy on road safety — The Road to Safety — on 31 July 1998. The primary target of the strategy is to reduce Irish road fatalities by 2002 by a minimum of 20 per cent on their 1997 level and to achieve a similar reduction — at least 20 per cent — in the number of serious injuries from road accidents.

The Garda authorities have taken the following measures in recent years. The Garda national traffic policy bureau, under the direction of a Chief Superintendent, was established in July 1997. The primary focus of the bureau is policy development, with particular emphasis on formulating proactive enforcement strategies aimed at reducing road deaths and road accidents. Operation Lifesaver was launched on 14 July 1997 in the Louth-Meath area and was subsequently extended nationwide in the autumn of 1997.

As a result of Operation Lifesaver, the Garda has identified the following key offences, which are the focus of its enforcement campaign, as major factors in fatal and serious injury accidents: excessive speed, drink driving, non compliance with seat belt wearing and dangerous and careless driving.

Operation Lifesaver involves high levels of patrolling, checkpoints and speed checks, in addition to an extensive road safety publicity campaign, which involves media campaigns using national and local radio stations, and schools programmes which are designed to educate all road users on the need to take care on our roads. The Operation Lifesaver strategy, which is endorsed in the national strategy on road safety, is to continue up to 2002.

Another measure introduced in recent years was the introduction of an on-the-spot speeding fine of £50. Since the introduction of Operation Lifesaver, in excess of 120,000 such fines have been issued to date. The voluntary payment rate is 75 per cent.

I wish to assure the Deputies that I have funded, and will continue to fund, additional resources identified by the Garda for the effective enforcement of the Road Traffic Acts. At present, the Garda has two GATSO units — a mobile speed detection unit with on board cameras and computer facilities. A further three are being acquired and will be brought into use in the near future.

In addition, as part of the Government's national strategy on road safety, it is planned to place automated speed detection cameras i.e. fixed cameras in the Louth-Meath division on a pilot basis. The Garda also has a wide range of other speed detection equipment such as tripod mounted lasers, in-car video systems and hand held radar guns which assist them in detecting road traffic offences.

With regard to the issue of additional powers for the Garda, the Government's national strategy on road safety identified the following measures which are designed to strengthen the powers of the Garda in combating road traffic offences.

First, extending the range of on-the-spot fines to include the following offences: non wearing of seat belts, stop/yield infringements, traffic light infringements, box junction violations and defective tyres. The draft regulations which will govern the introduction of these on-the-spot fines are currently being considered by my colleague, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, in conjunction with the Garda authorities.

Second, a phased introduction throughout the country of evidential breath testing. Provision has already been made for this measure in the Road Traffic Act, 1994. Its use will automatically record the driver's alcohol level without the need for further medical or analytical process.

Third, the introduction of a penalty points system which would trigger disqualification following repeated driving offences. This recommendation is currently under consideration by all the agencies involved in road safety, including the Garda authorities and my Department.

I wish to assure Deputies that the Garda will continue to use all available resources and to co-operate with all agencies involved in an effort to make our roads safer and reduce the number of deaths and injuries. The high level of Garda enforcement, along with the increased use of new technology, improvements to infrastructure and proactive strategies, can all contribute to reducing accidents and fatalities. However, long-term sustained reductions will only be achieved by a change in the mind set of drivers and other road users to one of compliance with the law, a fundamental change in driving habits, including courtesy, together with a considerable improvement in driving behaviour.