John Perry
Question:85 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to improve driver training for young drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23432/99]
Written Answers. - Road Safety.
Ulick Burke
Question:99 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to reduce the number of road accidents involving young people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23428/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 99 together.
The Government Strategy for Road Safety 1998-2002 acknowledged the importance of driver training and testing, with the qualification that these could not be expected to yield road safety benefits on the scale of measures directly targeted at speeding, alcohol and seat belt wearing which have been prioritised by the strategy.
Driver training is available at present from private motoring schools, many of whose instructors are registered with the voluntary driver instructor register, which has been financially supported by my Department, and the Irish Insurance Federation. Education and information is recognised in the safety strategy as being vital to forming good road safety habits in younger people who are the adult road users of the future. The National Safety Council is developing special material and programmes for the post primary sector that will focus both on safe road use by teenagers and the future responsibilities of young people as drivers. The council also regularly targets young drivers in its public media campaigns.
The first progress report of the High Level Group on Road Safety on the National Road Safety Strategy published in July 1999, noted with concern the increased involvement by young people in road accidents and recommended that further study of this phenomenon should be undertaken as a priority. This is now being addressed.
Michael Bell
Question:87 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on the Bacon report on road safety produced for the National Safety Council; the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendations made in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23303/99]
The report, An Economic Assessment and Preliminary Cost Benefit Analysis of the Government Strategy for Road Safety 1998-2002, provides a valuable analysis of the cost benefits associated with strategically organised and efficient road safety measures.
I have welcomed the report for its confirmation that the benefits of measures to prevent and reduce road accidents prioritised in the Government strategy significantly outweigh their cost. The benefit cost of the incremental road safety gains envisaged by the strategy is calculated at 4.5:1 rising to an annual benefit cost of 8.3:1 after implementation of the strategy is completed.
The report also makes a range of recommendations for the future cost benefit appraisal of road safety measures and it contains proposals for the development and refinement of road accident data. I have already circulated the report to my Government colleagues. The various road safety agencies and the high level group on road safety will have regard to its recommendations in their ongoing work in implementing the strategy and in monitoring and assessing progress towards the strategy's objectives.