Denis Naughten
Question:576 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the current reduction in speeding based on the 1997 figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12314/03]
Written Answers. - Road Safety.
Denis Naughten
Question:577 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the current reduction on seat-belt wearing based on the 1997 figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12315/03]
Denis Naughten
Question:584 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the number of seat-belt wearing surveys completed by the NRA in the past five years; the date of the last such survey; the proposed date for the completion of the next survey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12326/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 576, 577 and 584 together.
The National Roads Authority, NRA, carried out speed surveys on inter-urban sections of national routes in 1997 which showed widespread exceeding of speed limits, with 40% of cars exceeding the 60 miles per hour speed limit and 26% exceeding the 70 miles per hour motorway limit.
A national speed survey of "free speeds" was also carried out by the NRA in 1999 and published in 2000. The results of those surveys indicate that 51% of cars exceed the general speed limit of 60 miles per hour on two lane national primary routes, with 13% in excess of 70 miles per hour.
The NRA has subsequently carried out a sample "free speed" survey based on a sub-set of the original sites from the 1999 survey, and has also carried out a comprehensive speed survey, the results of which will be available shortly. Preliminary indications from this survey show that improvements have been made in speeding on rural roads.
Over the past five years, two seat-belt surveys have been carried out by the National Roads Authority, in 1999 and 2002, and a third survey is being undertaken this summer. The survey carried out in 1999 showed that the driver seat-belt wearing rate increased marginally from 51% to 55% over the eight year period 1991 to 1999. The survey also showed that male driver wearing rates declined slightly from 49% to 48% and female driver wearing rates increased from 61% in 1991 to 68% in 1999. The wearing rates for rear seat passengers in 1999 was 20%.
The NRA carried out a further comprehensive seat-belt survey last year and, while the report is not yet published, preliminary indications show that substantial progress has been made on seat-belt wearing. The results of this survey will be available shortly.