I move:
That Seanad Éireann commends the Government's initiative on the penalty points system and the associated measures regarding learner drivers, provisional licence holders, and motor insurance, and requests the Minister for Transport to outline the future strategies to strengthen these measures.
I welcome the Minister for Transport, Deputy Séamus Brennan. Of all the occasions he has come before the House, this is by far the most important motion he has had the opportunity to discuss with Members. Since taking office, he has been responsible for many initiatives in his Department, including rail, aviation, bus and infrastructural projects around the country. Road safety is undoubtedly the most important issue for a number of reasons, primarily because the strategies which have been put in place are concerned with saving lives. That is certainly the most important aspect of the entire initiative.
I had expected a balanced debate on this motion. However, in light of the amendment that has been tabled, it is obvious that the Opposition will not engage in what I would have anticipated as some sort of consensus and recognise the huge volume of work the Minister and the Government have undertaken. The Opposition appears to be quite critical and has failed to recognise the success achieved in such a short period. Its amendment highlights what has not been done, including elements about which the Minister has spoken and which, no doubt, he will bring forward in the near future. I expect he will outline his plans in this regard later. The Opposition's attitude reflects the "half empty glass" approach and I have no doubt we will see more of that. It seems that the Opposition is trying to give the Minister penalty points for the haste with which he is making changes and the speed with which lives are being saved.
The introduction of the penalty points system has been a hugely successful initiative from which some figures are worth noting. Over the first six months after the introduction of the system, there were 143 deaths on the roads – a reduction of 32% on the same period in the preceding year. That represents 68 lives saved. Up to 30 April 2003, there were 98 deaths on the roads, a reduction of 36. At 98, the number is still too high, but it is most important that so many lives have been saved.
Up to the end of last April, some 17,000 drivers had received penalty points. The system is clearly working, despite suggestions by some critics that levels of detection are down and that offenders are not being caught. The remarkable number of drivers affected by penalty points over such a short period gives testament to the work of the Garda, which has shown great enthusiasm for this initiative despite the difficulties associated with starting up the programme so quickly.
However, the programme is not only about saving lives. There has also been a huge reduction in the number of accidents. In reducing the incidence of fatal accidents, one also reduces the incidence of non-fatal accidents which can result in serious injuries. Road accidents increase the pressure on accident and emergency units at hospitals. The situation in A&E areas at any weekend demonstrates the difficulties which are being imposed on our health services in that regard.
Another immense benefit from the introduction of penalty points will be, it is hoped, a reduction in the cost to insurance companies, which should ultimately lead to a reduction in premia. The latter will come about as a result of insurance companies not having to pay out large amounts of money associated with serious injury or death.
The programme introduced by the Minister is not just about penalty points or penalising drivers, it is about changing an attitude of careless disregard by certain drivers, both for other road users and for the privilege of holding a driving licence. Fines have not worked in the past, but the fact that people can now lose their driving licences through the penalty points system has helped to focus their attention on showing due care on the roads. This change in culture among drivers will be further enhanced by the expansion of the programme the Minister intends to introduce. From 1 June, uninsured drivers will attract a high number of penalty points. When that aspect is taken in conjunction with driving dangerous vehicles and a failure to use seat belts, drivers could find themselves being put off the road after just two offences. That is the way to indicate that driving in a manner that puts lives at risk will no longer be tolerated.
While enforcement is necessary at this stage because it is a way of assisting the introduction of this attitudinal change, I have no doubt that the new culture will diminish the need for such rigorous enforcement. Over time, therefore, there will be less of a burden on the Garda Síochána because, given a change of mind-set, one would hope that drivers will begin automatically to respect the rules of the road.
The Opposition has identified some valid issues in its amendment, but these were also identified by the Minister in the past. I have no doubt that he is working on these issues and that he may refer to them in his contribution. For example, the Minister has taken steps on testing, particularly for learner drivers, and he intends to introduce further changes in that regard. Such moves will help to bring about a change of culture on the roads.
While certain measures are aimed at experienced drivers, we also need to cater for young people by ensuring that those who are just beginning to drive have the necessary skills and training, as well as having respect for other road users. We also need to examine the legislation governing the regulation of driving instructors and I am sure the Minister has some ideas on that matter. Driving licences should not be based merely on passing a test, but also on demonstrating due respect for others using the roads.
Insurance companies have said that they would like to establish a database of all those who have accumulated penalty points and the Minister has outlined, in the strongest terms, how he intends to deal with that issue. I am sure he will allude to this matter later. We need to see genuine premia reductions for those with clean driving licences. The idea of weighting premia levels for offenders and repeat offenders is good because it will reward good and responsible drivers. We need to be careful about this process in the early stages, however, because the Minister is still reviewing speed limits in certain areas. We should not consider penalising drivers with increased insurance premia until that review has taken place because there are anomalies in certain parts of the country. We should also examine the possibility of introducing a sliding scale under which those with more penalty points will attract higher insurance premia.
A threshold will also be required so that someone with, for example, only two penalty points would not be unduly penalised. The Minister has already stated that he does not wish to see insurance penalties brought to bear on such people in the early stages of the scheme. The idea of having a year free of penalties has been proposed, which would allow drivers to enjoy the benefits of the no claims bonus system.
Speed limits are of major importance, particularly in metropolitan areas. Some dual carriageways on the edge of urban areas carry speed limits of 30 or 40 mph and these should be reviewed in advance of any changes in the traffic laws.
The Minister should consider a practice used in the United States whereby a driver who is about to reach the disqualification stage – whether it is at 12 or 14 points – must undertake an advanced driving test programme. Offenders who sit such a two-day test successfully can be credited with two points. Although there is a high charge associated with the test, it leads to improved driving techniques as well as giving people a second chance. That American model might be worth examining.
I will now pass over to my colleagues, who have further issues to discuss in what is a wide-ranging, useful and fruitful debate. I congratulate the Minister on the tremendous work he has done, not just in the area of road safety area but throughout his departmental brief.