Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2004
58 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to recent findings from the National Roads Authority that the majority of motorists are still recklessly breaking the speed limit and ignoring the risk of penalty points; his views on whether absence of fear of Garda enforcement means motorists are driving above speed limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32308/04]
View answerThe National Roads Authority, NRA, has published the results of national speed surveys which have been carried out in 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2003. The most recent results relate to the 2003 survey. The results indicate that the proportion of cars exceeding the speed limit on urban arterial and residential roads fell sharply between summer 2002 and summer 2003. The fall in the percentage of free speeding cars exceeding the speed limit was most dramatic in urban residential areas. The percentage of cars violating posted 30 mph limits on these roads fell by 25% in 2003. These reductions followed the introduction of penalty points for speeding in October 2002. The free speeding rural survey also showed sizeable improvements in car speeding compliance rates on dual carriageways and two lane national primary roads.
The significant improvements to which I have referred related to speeding rates within the 30 and 40 mph zones. Despite the improvements outlined in the report, the percentage of cars speeding in 30 and 40 mph zones, particularly when entering these zones, is still worryingly high. The recently published Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 includes measures targeted at the key areas relating to road collisions, including speeding. The strategy also sets out specific targets regarding reductions in the incidence of speeding which will be monitored over the lifetime of the strategy. In recognition of the importance of enforcement in the strategy, the Garda has established commitments to the achievement of specific levels of enforcement across the three key areas of seat belt wearing, speed limits and drink driving.
The effectiveness of the penalty points system can be judged primarily on the basis of the contribution it has made to road safety since its introduction. In the two years since the introduction of the system in October 2002 the number of deaths as a result of road collisions has fallen by 116 in comparison with the previous two years. Penalty points now operate in respect of speeding, seat belt wearing, driving without insurance and careless driving. Since the introduction of the system over 191,000 drivers have incurred penalty points. In overall terms, the introduction of penalty points has had a positive effect on road safety and I am confident that the full roll out of the system will further enhance that effect.
Indications from the Garda Síochána in respect of the operation of the system to date show that, with no reduction in enforcement efforts, there has been a significant drop in the number of detections for speeding offences. As recently announced by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and me, the creation of a dedicated traffic corps is being progressed with the deployment of additional gardaí to traffic duties over the next three years. In this context, the numbers of gardaí allocated to traffic duties will be significantly increased from approximately 530 now to 1,200 by 2008.
