I thank the Chair for the opportunity to speak on this important matter on the Adjournment and the Minister for coming into the House to reply to it. The recent litany of statistics revealed by the NRA on non-compliance by road users with traffic laws and regulations is mindboggling. It reveals an enormous disregard for the law on road safety.
The Government's record in dealing with this problem is poor. A road safety strategy was launched by the Taoiseach, Deputy Ahern, in August 1998 with the objective of cutting road deaths by 20%. A major investment of £6 million in new technology was mooted on that occasion. Almost two years later nothing of major consequence has evolved in terms of tackling the enormous loss of life and injuries that occur as a result of accidents on our highways every day of the week.
Legislation in this area is to be introduced and while some of it is necessary and a priority, more of it is not deemed to be so. In the previous debate some Senators referred to legislation that should have been introduced and implemented. Much of today's business was taken up with the Containment of Nuclear Weapons Bill. That would not be regarded by the public as a priority in any shape or form. Ireland has no nuclear weapons to contain. The only nuclear weapons are at the Flood tribunal and they are well contained at present. Legislation in this area is required as a priority and it should have been introduced by now. Every day lives are lost unnecessarily on our roadways. While the number of personal injuries as a result of accidents has decreased, the number of fatal accidents has increased relative to the numbers on our roads.
With regard to the new technology that was promised almost two years ago, only six cameras are operating on the main highways out of Dublin. That number of cameras to deal with the volume of traffic on our roads is inadequate. If the Minister was to announce tonight the introduction of a raft of legislation, incorporating the measures outlined in the strategy for road safety, and report next year that two dozen to four dozen lives were saved during that period, that would be a major achievement.
Many drivers are ill-equipped to drive as they have not passed their test. We do not know the degree of their driving competence. The waiting period for the driving test in some areas in Dublin is more than one year, while in rural areas, including my area, it is 39 weeks. Such waiting periods are ridiculous in a modern economy. There are not enough driver testers. The necessary computer technology is not in place to deal with the amount of summonses that should be issued to ensure compliance with road traffic regulations, if such regulations were enforced.
Citizens could do a good deal to enforce the regulations if they used their imaginations and the necessary facilities were in place. Many motorists observe other motorists who disregard traffic regulations, but do nothing about it. Most cars are equipped with mobile phones. It would be a simple matter to report such offenders. While the 999 system is not equipped for that type of operation, a similar number that would be easy to remember could be dialled by people to report motorists who breach the law in this area. Such issues could be tackled. In this regard I blame the individual citizen for not being as conscious as he should be in detecting people who violate the rules of the road.
With regard to testing, much of the theory about road safety and driving practices could be taught in secondary school. Most secondary school pupils from the transition year on can drive. Transition year could be used to inculcate the theory and practice of road safety. Although I could say more on this subject, I am running out of time.
