Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2004
25 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether, in view of the current level of checks by the gardaí, motorists can expect to be stopped for speeding once every 28 years and can expect to be breathalysed every 140 years; and if he will take steps to ensure that traffic laws are applied in a meaningful fashion. [20815/04]
View answerSince the introduction of the Government's first road safety strategy in 1998, the number of people killed and injured on Irish roads has declined by over 26% from 458 in 1998, to 337 in 2003 despite increases in car ownership over the period. Under the strategy, the gardaí concentrated their enforcement efforts on the offences identified as the main contributors to road fatalities and injuries, that is, speeding, driving while intoxicated and seat-belt offences.
The new road safety strategy, which is due to be published shortly by my colleague the Minister for Transport, will build further on the good start made and set ambitious targets for road safety. I recognise the importance of enforcement in the area of road safety and the Garda contribution to the success of the new strategy will be enhanced through the provision of modern IT support systems, additional legislative provisions such as the introduction of random breath testing and, where appropriate, the outsourcing of administrative tasks. However, it must also be recognised that drivers have a personal responsibility to themselves and to other road users to obey the law of the land. As the Deputy will be no doubt aware, the main objective of Garda activity in the area of road safety is to change road user behaviour, through enforcement and surveillance, ultimately resulting in a reduction of the number killed and injured on our roads annually. I am satisfied that the innovations I have mentioned will considerably reduce the administrative burden on operational gardaí and facilitate an increased focus on prevention and detection of road traffic offences.
