Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2004
90 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Transport if he has plans to follow the Australian example and publish details of the makes and models of cars involved in serious and fatal accidents in order that consumers can make informed choices when buying a new car. [32392/04]
View answer119 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Transport if he has any classification of national roads based on a comparative level of danger; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32407/04]
View answer195 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Transport the number of fatalities and serious injuries which have resulted from road traffic accidents on motorways and dual carriageways, respectively, caused by vehicles crossing over the centre median and crashing into oncoming traffic. [32050/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 119 and 195 together.
Statistics relating to road accidents, based on information provided by the Garda Síochána, are published by the National Roads Authority 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, is available in the Oireachtas Library. Data relating to the makes and models of cars involved in serious and fatal accidents are not included in the reports.
Analysis of factors contributing to accidents in 2002 indicates that behaviour of drivers, 86%, and pedestrians, 9.7%, are the key contributory factors, whereas vehicle defects were identified as contributory factors in only 0.3% of fatal and serious injuries accidents. The contribution of vehicle defects to road accidents has significantly reduced on foot of design improvements and the introduction of the national car test in 2000. The road accident reports include data relating to the number of fatalities and serious injuries on each of the national routes and motorways. The 2002 report shows that 72% of fatal accidents occurred on rural roads and 28% occurred on urban roads. A total of 43% of all fatal accidents in 2002 occurred on national roads.
Analysis of road accident data clearly establishes that the risk of being involved in a road accident is much lower on motorways than on either dual carriageways or single carriageways. The risk of being involved in a fatal accident on a single carriageway road is approximately seven times greater than on a motorway. The NRA has confirmed that median barriers are provided on all new motorway and dual carriageway roads. In addition, median barriers are being retrofitted on all existing motorway and dual carriageway roads and this work is expected to be completed by mid-2005.
In the case of the M50, it had been intended by the NRA that median barriers would be provided in the context of the upgrade project which is due to get underway, subject to An Bord Pleanála approval, on a phased basis in late 2005 for phase 1 and in 2006 for phase 2. However, in light of the recent crossover accident on the M50, in which a young woman tragically lost her life, the NRA is now considering the options for providing median barriers in advance of the M50 upgrade. The NRA has been asked to inform my Department of the outcome of its considerations on this matter as soon as possible.
