Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 2

Written Answers. - Road Accident Statistics.

Martin Brady

Question:

330 Mr. M. Brady asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the percentage of road accidents resulting in injuries or fatalities in each of the past five years for which statistics are available which have involved drivers of vehicles possessing a provisional driving licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22062/00]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy):

An analysis of the involvement of provisional driving licence holders in road accidents has been carried out by the National Roads Authority – NRA – in the report Young Driver Accidents 1997, a copy of which is in the Oireachtas Library. That analysis acknowledges the statistical limitations of the sample involved and consequently of its findings.

According to the NRA report of the road accidents in 1997 where licence information was provided, 38% of young car drivers aged 17 to 24 years injured were reported as holding a provisional licence, compared to 9% of older car drivers. The corresponding figures for young and older motorcyclists were 69% and 36%, respectively. Changes have subsequently been made to the licensing regime for novice motorcyclists.

Within the statistical limitations involved, the NRA report also estimates that drivers with pro visional licences are considered to be to a large extent responsible for road accidents in which they are involved to a higher degree than drivers of corresponding age and gender who have full licences. The extent of this greater responsibility ranges from +5% to +11%, depending on age and or gender.