I have been notified that Deputy Ned O'Keeffe wishes to make a proposal.
Report on Reform of the Irish Insurance Market — Road Safety.
This is a good report and I propose that we congratulate all the people concerned and wish them well in the report's launch, especially Mr. Geiran who did most of the donkey work in respect of red tape and small print. The report will have a far-reaching effect for people. There is already interest in it and many local radio stations have telephoned me to arrange interviews for tomorrow. I look forward to the launch and wish everyone well. I thank the Chairman for his initiative in increasing this committee's exposure in many areas other than insurance.
I thank the Deputy.
I second the proposal and the Deputy's remarks on this report. Road safety is a key issue for people at present. It causes a great deal of unease and we are examining it not only in the context in saving lives but also the contribution which can be made to reducing motor insurance costs. If the Government implements the radical measures proposed in this report, it will go a long way towards having safer roads and a reduction in loss of life.
I welcome Senator Mooney who is deputising for Senator Hanafin. Is it agreed that we adopt the report? Agreed.
While Irish road fatalities increase, most EU countries are experiencing a decrease in fatalities. The road safety strategy 2004-06 envisaged a reduction in fatalities to 300 in 2006. The level of fatalities in the first six months of 2006 was 200 and, unfortunately, it seems likely to exceed 400 in 2006. Therefore, while the strategy contains many excellent measures, it has not achieved its objective.
The enactment in July 2006 of the Road Traffic Act 2006, the establishment of the Road Safety Authority and the increase in numbers in the Garda traffic corps are important developments which should contribute to a reduction in fatalities in future. However, much more can be done. Road safety policy should assume driver errors are inevitable. Roads should be engineered to ensure that driver errors do not result in fatalities and motor vehicles should be engineered to reduce the possibility of driver error and the likelihood of death where an error occurs.
Road safety is the concern of every driver and pedestrian. No matter how compliant one is with the rules of the road, one can be killed by the actions of another driver. Owing to the danger, drivers should be encouraged to assist the Garda Síochána with enforcement. This is especially the case for professional drivers. This report makes recommendations on education, training and licensing, motor vehicles, road engineering, enforcement, insurance companies and road safety. Chapter 2 of the report lists the joint committee's recommendations.
The work of the joint committee on insurance reform led to it considering issues of road safety. Insurance companies indicated that to reduce insurance premiums for motor vehicles further, the number of collisions and fatalities on roads had to be reduced. The joint committee published three reports on insurance reform, all of which contained recommendations on road safety.
Committee members visited the United States to make further inquiries into road safety issues. I thank those who participated and those who sent us there. I led the delegation, which also included Deputies Hogan, Tony Dempsey and Callanan. We were fortunate to be accompanied by the consultant to the committee, Mr. Myles O'Reilly, and the clerk, Mr. Eoin Faherty. Following that visit, the joint committee believes it should publish this report to deal specifically with road safety issues.
The report is a response to the increase in the number of fatalities and to public concern on the issue. In publishing the report at this time, the joint committee is aware of the recent establishment of the Road Safety Authority on an interim basis and that its vesting day may not be until 1 September 2006. I wish its chairman, Mr. Gay Byrne, luck and support. We look forward to both the chief executive and the chairman assisting the committee in late September or early October.
In addition, the important Road Traffic Act only came into force on 21 July 2006. This Act makes a number of important amendments to previous legislation, such as additional speed cameras and permitting random breath testing among many other provisions. Members will recall that the report the committee published last year called for random breath testing. The Taoiseach and the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, supported us by establishing a special Cabinet sub-committee to address issues of road safety and they accepted our proposal on random breath testing. Regulations for random breath testing came into effect on 21 July.
Nevertheless, after holding consultations with insurance companies and other interested parties and visiting the USA, the joint committee has identified a range of further measures which should be taken. The arrangements for issuing provisional driving licences need to be urgently reformed. Simulators should be used to improve the driving skills of all new drivers. Consumers need to be informed about the safety performance of new and used vehicles. Trees, lamp posts and other objects on motorways and national primary routes should be removed or surrounded with guard rails. All national primary routes that are not being converted into motorways or dual carriage roads should become 2 plus 1 roads as soon as possible. Insurance companies can play an important role in road safety by structuring insurance packages in a way that recognises the safety features of the motor vehicle and the training of the drivers. An electronic data recorder or black box installed in vehicles as part a system to communicate collision information instantaneously can save lives.
Is the report agreed? Agreed.
The joint committee adjourned at 2:35 p.m. sine die.