Written Answers. - Road Safety.
Bernard Allen
Question:
108
Mr. Allen
asked the
Minister for Transport
the number of persons killed and injured in road traffic accidents during 2000, 2001 and to date in 2002; if, in regard to the Government strategy on road safety, he will indicate those commitments which have been implemented and those which have to be acted upon; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17531/02]
Bernard Allen
Question:
113
Mr. Allen
asked the
Minister for Transport
the measures he will introduce to reduce the level of road accidents; and if he will give a timetable for the introduction of such measures.
[17560/02]
Bernard Allen
Question:
121
Mr. Allen
asked the
Minister for Transport
the number of persons killed and injured in road traffic accidents during 2000 and 2001; if, in regard to the Government strategy on road safety, he will give details of the commitments which have been implemented and which remain to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17596/02]
Bernard Allen
Question:
137
Mr. Allen
asked the
Minister for Transport
the process his Department uses to evaluate the success or otherwise of the Government road safety strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17729/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 113, 121 and 137 together.
The number of road deaths in 2000 and 2001 was 415 and 411 respectively. The total for 2001 represents a 13% decrease on the 1997 level of 472. There were 1,640 serious injuries on our roads in 2000 representing a decrease of almost 25% on 1997 levels. Figures relating to serious injuries for 2001 are not yet fully analysed and authenticated. They will be set out in Road Accident Facts, 2001, which will be published by the National Roads Authority. The number of road deaths to 8 October 2002 is 307.
The Government is strongly pursuing the implementation of its Strategy for Road Safety 1998-2002, the first ever national road safety strategy to be adopted by the Irish Government. The strategy has prioritised a systematic and co-ordinated set of measures for preventing and reducing road accidents. It establishes quantified targets for achieving its objectives, the principle 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, seat belt wearing and vulnerable road users. 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), second progress report (August 2000), and third progress report (July 2001) detail progress with key actions. Copies of all three reports have been circulated to all Deputies and are also available in the Oireachtas Library. A fourth progress report will be published shortly.
The third progress report shows that real and worthwhile gains are being made in road safety within the framework of the Government Strategy. In addition to the reduced level of road deaths and serious injuries to which I have already referred, the interim targets fixed by the strategy for achievement by 2000 have been well met.
Progress is also ahead of target in extending low cost accident measures across the national road network, with 365 schemes completed on the national network by end 2001 with a further 32 approved for 2002.
Garda enforcement activity has been intensified and improved in accordance with the road safety strategy. Over 345,000 on the spot fines issued in relation to speeding offences in 2001, compared to 175,000 in 1999 and 130,000 in 1998. A pilot scheme providing for the deployment of fixed speed cameras is in operation on four of the main national routes out of Dublin and on the M50. Speed limit enforcement is also being supported by an increase in mobile speed detection, the use of laser speed detection as well as in-car and motorcycle cameras. At the end of 2001, approximately 149,000 on the spot fines had been issued for non-wearing of seat belts since the introduction of this measure in July 1999. The number of detections for drink driving in 2001 increased by almost 53% over 1998.
The road safety strategy also provided for the implementation of a penalty points system in support of road safety enforcement. The legislation necessary for this measure was passed by the Oireachtas in March 2002. The necessary software amendments to the national driver file to record penalty points and administer the system, have been made. Work is at an advanced stage in relation to the introduction of penalty points for speeding offences only, which I expect to be operational by the end of this month.
An essential prerequisite of the development of the next strategy is that a detailed review of the results of the current strategy should be carried out. Accordingly an international expert in the field of road safety has been engaged to carry out an independent review of the current strategy based on the following terms of reference: review developments and progress made under the current National Road Safety Strategy 1998-2002; place Ireland's performance in an appropriate international context; and having regard to recent developments, including relevant international developments, suggest options for priorities for the next strategy to cover the period 2003-07, and beyond if considered necessary.
The programme for Government states that a three-year road safety strategy will be developed and will target speeding, drink-driving, seat-belt wearing and pedestrian safety in order to reduce deaths and injuries. The European Commission is in the process of developing a third road safety action plan for the EU and is proposing a primary goal of halving the number of road deaths in the EU between 2002 and 2010.
The preparation of the next strategy will take account of the review of the current strategy, to which I have already referred, the commitment in the programme for Government, and the evolving developments at EU level in relation to the third road safety action plan.
Bernard Allen
Question:
109
Mr. Allen
asked the
Minister for Transport
the number of children killed in road accidents in each of the past five years; the steps being taken to deal with the high level of child deaths from accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17534/02]
Statistics regarding the total number of road accidents are published by the National Roads Authority in its annual Road Accident Facts reports. The reports, which are compiled from information supplied by the Garda Síochána, are available in the Oireachtas Library.
The following table gives details of the number of children under the age of 15 killed in road accidents from 1996 to 2000, the latest year for which figures are available:
|
Year
|
Number of people under the age of 15 years killed in Road Accidents
|
|
1996
|
25
|
|
1997
|
27
|
|
1998
|
34
|
|
1999
|
23
|
|
2000
|
22
|
The need for children to develop good road safety habits at the earliest possible age was recognised in the Government strategy for road safety 1998-2002.
In the second progress report (July 2000) on the Government strategy for road safety 1998-2002, the high level group on road safety recommended that vulnerable road users, including children, be added as a further area of focus for the strategy and additional measures and resources should be directed at this new target area.
The National Safety Council was assigned the lead role by the Government strategy for road safety for the development of a resource pack on road safety for input into the social, personal, health and education programme in the new primary school curriculum. The resource pack called BE SAFE was launched in September 2000 and over 30,000 copies of the pack have been distributed to primary school teachers, principals and boards of management.
The NSC has also developed a secondary school transition year resource project on road safety. This resource was pilot tested in 20 secondary schools throughout the country and was launched on September 10 2001. This resource will complement existing activities in secondary schools.
