Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 March 2004
116 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the number of fatal road accidents which occurred in each of the past three years in which a HGV was involved; if details are available regarding whether drivers of such vehicles had full or provisional licences; the current requirements of a provisional licence for HGVs in respect of an accompanying driver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7400/04]
View answerStatistics relating to road accidents, based on information provided by the Garda Síochána, are published by the National Roads Authority, NRA, in its annual Road Accident Facts reports. The most recent report is in respect of 2002 and that report, along with reports relating to previous years, are available in the Oireachtas Library.
The NRA reports contain details of the number of accidents where goods vehicles were involved. This classification of vehicle type includes heavy goods vehicles, HGVs, vans and the tractor units of articulated lorries. Specific information in regard to the number of fatal road accidents in which a HGV was involved is not contained in the reports.
Provisional figures for 2003 indicate that 341 road deaths occurred during that year. A breakdown of the number of traffic accident fatalities in 2003, caused by goods vehicles, is not yet fully analysed and authenticated. They will be set out in the Road Accident Facts 2003, which will be published by the National Roads Authority later this year.
A person holding a category C1, trucks up to 7,500 kg, or category C, trucks over 3,500 kg, provisional licence must be accompanied by a person who holds a driving licence in the category of vehicle which that person is driving. The NRA reports do not contain details as to whether the drivers of such vehicles involved in fatal accidents had full or provisional licences.
