Vol. 519 No. 7
34 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to any Garda research or studies on serious and fatal road accidents which indicate a need to address issues such as engineering and road design; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14593/00]
36 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the action he intends to take arising from the recent reports of the National Roads Authority showing high levels of speeding and non-compliance with seat belt legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14698/00]
58 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if, in regard to the recommendations contained in the road safety strategy document published in August 1998, he will outline the recommendations that have been implemented and the ones that remain to be acted upon; the reason the long promised penalty point system for road offences has not been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14701/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 36 and 58 together.
The Government strategy for road safety 1998-2002 prioritises a systematic and co-ordinated set of measures for preventing and reducing road accidents. It establishes quantified targets for achieving its objectives, the principal of which is to reduce road deaths and serious injuries each by at least 20% by 2002 relative to 1997. Priority is accorded by the strategy to actions targeted at speeding, alcohol and seat belt wearing. A timetable for key actions in these and other areas is also set out.
The Government strategy is monitored by the high level group on road safety whose first progress report – July 1999 – inter alia details progress with these key actions. Copies of that report were circulated to all Deputies and are also available in the Oireachtas Library. A second progress report, incorporating updated information on key actions, will be published by July 2000.
