Written Answers. - Road Traffic Laws.
Dick Spring
Question:
29
Mr. Spring
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the additional steps the gardaí are taking to ensure compliance with road traffic laws in order to reduce the level of road deaths; if he has had considerations made into the establishment of a dedicated Garda traffic corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20183/00]
As the Deputy may be aware the second progress report on the Government strategy for road safety was published by the high level group on road safety last July. The report showed that the downward trend in road deaths and serious injuries continued in 1999 towards the primary target of the strategy. The number of people killed on our roads decreased from 472 in 1997 to 413 in 1999 which represents a 12.5% reduction. The number of people seriously injured also decreased by more than 15%: down from 2,182 in 1997 to 1,849 in 1999. However, there is no room for complacency and particularly in view of the continuing high levels of road deaths this year which Government and the Garda authorities remain determined to tackle in co-operation with all the agencies involved in road safety.
As the House is aware the Garda Síochána in 1997, established the Garda National Traffic Bureau, headed by a chief superintendent, whose primary role is to formulate proactive enforcement strategies aimed at reducing deaths and serious injury accidents.
Following the establishment of the Garda National Traffic Bureau, the gardaí launched Operation Lifesaver on 14 July 1997 in the Louth-Meath division and subsequently extended this campaign nationwide. Operation Lifesaver involves high levels of patrolling, checkpoints and speed checks in addition to an extensive road safety publicity campaign, using national and local radio stations including schools programmes which are designed to educate all road users of the need to exercise care on our roads.
With regard to Garda enforcement in relation to speeding, in 1999 a total of 178,009 on the spot fines were issued and there were 30,105 prosecutions. In the year 2000 up to 30 September, a total of 165,000 on the spot fines for speeding were issued by the gardaí. There were 8,823 prosecutions for drink driving in 1999 and 7,022 arrests for this offence up to the end of September 2000. With regard to seat belt offences a total of 25,000 fines were issued by the gardaí in 1999 and in excess of 40,000 such fines were issued to end of September 2000.
Furthermore, I understand that in the year 2000, the Garda National Traffic Bureau launched a series of short intensive campaigns with specific targets to complement Operation Lifesaver, that is, Operation Road Runner during parts of April and May, which focused specifically on speeding. Operation Samhraidh coincided with the holiday high season from 13 July to 3 September last and Operation Belt-up which operated from 1 to 7 May, and 29 May to 4 June, and which focused on seat belt offences were other operational initiatives. Other week-long intensive campaigns focused on motorcyclists, heavy goods vehicles and traffic light infringements.
In relation to the Deputy's proposal to establish a dedicated Garda traffic corps, I should state that there is a traffic corps in every Garda division with special responsibility for traffic law enforcement. In addition, all uniformed gardaí throughout the State are involved in traffic law enforcement as required. Although primary responsibility of the traffic corps is accident prevention and traffic control, members of the corps deal with all matters which require Garda attention.
Furthermore, members of the traffic corps possess a range of sophisticated traffic offence detection equipment, including in car videos, radar speed guns, tripod mounted radar and a number of unmarked GATSO – a mobile unit with on board radar, camera and computer equipment – vans.
As of now I can inform the House that there are no plans to establish a dedicated traffic corps.
