asked the Minister for Local Government the number of people killed on Irish roads for the period 1st January, 1972-30th April, 1972; how these figures compare with those for the same perod last year; and if the primary cause of such fatalities has been determined.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Deaths.
135.
Provisional figures issued by the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána show that during the first three months of 1972, 142 persons were killed on the roads. The figure for the corresponding period in 1971 was 126. Provisional figures for road casualties for the month of April, 1972, will not be available for a few days.
An analysis of the accidents which occur during each year is contained in "Traffic Accident Facts" published by An Foras Forbartha. The latest report available is that for 1970 which was published in August, 1971.
In view of the tremendous personal tragedies that these figures conceal have the Minister and his Department any plans for some dramatic and really effective measures to try to cut down this terrible toll on our roads? The speed limit, for one, is not being enforced. It is not the complete answer but it is one answer.
My Department have done a lot. No matter what I do and how radical my approach, the Deputy will accept that there is always the need for co-operation from the public who are using our roads—the motorists, pedestrians, motor cyclists, people on bicycles—and the care they exercise is a very sizeable factor in determining the cause of accidents. At the same time, we have not been complacent and I think the House will accept that we have done our best to promote the message of the need to take care. Through the roads programme we have invested substantial sums of money to bring our roads up to a better standard and to make them safer for those who are using them. I would refer the Deputy to a speech made on my behalf yesterday at a seminar in An Foras Forbartha by my Parliamentary Secretary which gives some indication of my future plans for the road safety programme.
May I suggest that as the sense of public responsibility has obviously been inadequate, having regard to the growing number of deaths, the only remedy that is now left is that of really severe sanctions and that consideration will have to be given to that?