Vol. 571 No. 1
1028 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Transport the number of people killed in road traffic accidents in the most recent year for which statistics are available; and the number of those who were not wearing seatbelts at the time. [19648/03]
1029 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Transport the total number of fatal road traffic accidents; and the number of those where any of the people involved were under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. [19649/03]
I propose to take Question Nos. 1028 and 1029 together.
Statistics relating to road accidents, based on information provided by the Garda Síochána, are published by the National Roads Authority in its annual road accident facts reports. The most recent report is in respect of 2001 and that report, along with reports relating to previous years, are available in the Oireachtas Library.
Provisional figures available for 2002 show that 376 people were killed. A final figure for 2002 will not be available until the report for that year is published. The 2001 road accident facts indicate that 411 people died on the roads during that year, of these 30 car drivers and 15 front seat passengers were killed while not wearing a seatbelt, where such information available.
Garda figures indicate that the number of road deaths to 30 September 2003 is 249 compared to 301 for the same date last year which represents a 17% reduction.
The number of fatal road traffic accidents for 2001 was 360. The number of people killed between the hours of 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., the hours most strongly associated with drinking and driving, was 111 in respect of that year. The reports do not include details of accidents in which drugs were a contributory factor.
