Derek McDowell
Question:117 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps the Garda is taking to ensure greater compliance with road traffic legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22012/01]
Written Answers. - Road Traffic Legislation.
Road traffic legislation comes within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government. Enforcement of the legislation is a matter for the Garda Síochána. However, I assure the House that road safety is being afforded a high priority by the Government.
The progressive implementation of the National Strategy on Road Safety, 1998-2002, is being overseen by the inter-agency, high level group on road safety, which includes representatives of my Department, the Garda Síochána, the Department of the Environment and Local Government, the Department of Health and Children, the National Safety Council, the Irish Insurance Federation and the National Roads Authority. In July 2001, the high level group published its third progress report on the implementation of the national strategy. This report pro vides an account of the actions items which have, to date, been implemented by the various agencies and outlines the work that needs to be completed by 2002.
I confirm that the Garda Commissioner considers the enforcement of the road traffic legislation to be an integral element of Garda policing plans, as evidenced by the continued functioning of Operation Lifesaver, which has run as a national operation since 1997. Operation Lifesaver is continuing to focus on speeding, drink driving, seat belt offences and dangerous and careless driving, which have been identified as the principal causes of road deaths and serious injury accidents. The operation involves high levels of Garda patrolling, checkpoints and speed checks, as well as media campaigns which make use of local and national radio stations and schools programmes. Thanks to this and other Garda initiatives, there has been a steady increase in the enforcement and detection of speeding, seat belt and drink driving offences. For example, in relation to speeding, the number of on-the-spot fines issued in 2000 represents a 214% increase on 1997 levels. Similarly, the number of detections for drink driving in 2000 represents an increase of 24% on 1998 levels.
It is a fact that greater enforcement and targeted policing measures lead to an increase in detections, not a decrease. It would, therefore, be a gross misunderstanding to interpret recent increases in detections as a failure; rather they constitute visible signs of concerted and co-ordinated Government policy on road safety.