Written Answers. - Road Traffic Accidents.
David Stanton
Question:
60
Mr. Stanton
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
if the Garda is examining the effectiveness of the enforcement of road traffic legislation in view of the high number of deaths and injuries in traffic accidents in 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7120/99]
Ivor Callely
Question:
170
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the three most common reasons for road accidents; the measures, if any, put in place to reduce road accidents and, in particular, to respond to the National Roads Authority's annual report on road accident facts; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7340/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 170 together.
The Government and the Garda authorities are determined to continue to confront the unacceptable high levels of deaths and injuries on our roads. The provisional figure for 1998 shows that 461 persons were killed as a result of road traffic accidents. While this figure shows a decline on the 1997 figure of 473, it is still unacceptably high.
The Deputies will be aware that the Government launched the national strategy on road safety – The Road To Safety – on 31 July 1998. Its principal aim is to reduce death and serious injuries on our roads by at least 20 per cent by 2002. This strategy is providing a framework plan encompassing legislative change, enforcement, new technology, multi-agency co-operation as well as a wider public ownership of road safety.
With regard to implementation of the strategy, the following measures have been introduced or will be introduced during the current year: Operation Lifesaver to continue into 1999; a trial of a fixed camera on the M1, Dublin to Belfast has been completed by the Garda the results of which are being evaluated and the fines on-the-spot system has been extended with effect from 1 February 1999 by my colleague, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, to include the following offences: seat belt offences, traffic light infringements, stop-yield sign infringements, box junction infringements, defective tyres, breaches of centre line roadway and merging-diverging road markings, unauthorised driving in bus lanes. With regard to the commitment given in the national strategy to introduce evidential breath testing, I am informed by the Garda authorities that work on the introduction of evidential breath testing is continuing with a view to its introduction countrywide by the end of this year. The introduction this year of a penalty points system is being explored by all the agencies involved in road safety. The introduction of the relevant legislation is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government.
In so far as the Garda authorities are concerned, they have taken the following measures in recent years: the Garda national traffic policy bureau, based at Garda headquarters 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 serious injury accidents; the launch of Operation Lifesaver on 14 July 1997 and its subsequent extension nationwide in the autumn of 1997 and as a result of Operation Lifesaver, the Garda has identified the following offences as major factors in serious road accidents which have been singled out for particular attention by the Garda in its enforcement policies: excessive speed, drink driving, non-compliance with seat belt wearing, dangerous-careless driving.
Operation Lifesaver involves high levels of patrolling, checkpoints and speed checks, in addition to extensive road safety publicity campaigns, using local and national media as well as schools campaigns which are designed to educate road users on the need to take care on the roads. This campaign will continue to the year 2002.
The Garda will continue to issue on the spot speeding tickets, which were extended to speeding offences in December 1996. Since then 191,834 notices have been issued for such offences. Approximately 75 per cent of these were paid without a court appearance by the defendants.
In line with the increase in Garda enforcement activity, I have funded and will continue to fund additional resources in terms of manpower and equipment identified by the Garda for the effective enforcement of traffic legislation.
The Garda has five GATSO units, a mobile speed detection unit with on board computer and camera facilities. In addition to the planned introduction of fixed cameras in the Louth-Meath division on a pilot basis the Garda also possesses a wide range of other speed detection equipment such as tripod mounted lasers, in-car video systems and hand-held radar guns.
I am confident that the continuing Garda enforcement campaign combined with the full implementation of the national strategy can contribute during the lifetime of the national strategy, that is, 1998 to 2002, to the reduction in the number of road accidents and fatalities. It must also be stated unequivocally that a change in the mindset of drivers and other road users to one of compliance with the law is necessary to effect long-term reductions in road traffic accidents.
