asked the Minister for Local Government the total number of people killed on Irish roads to date this year; the corresponding number of people killed for the same period last year; and if, in view of the very high rate of road deaths, he will consider establishing a commission immediately to examine fully all aspects of road safety in this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Deaths.
51.
Provisional figures issued recently by the Garda commissioner show that during the first five months of this year 239 people were killed on our roads, compared with 195 for the same period in 1971.
During the course of my recent address to the House on the Estimate for my Department I referred, inter alia, to my intention to draw up a programme of road accident prevention which will involve not only action at official level, but also the co-operation of the individual road user backed up by the participation of organisations and bodies who could make a contribution towards the reduction of accidents.
Details of this programme are at present being worked out.
How soon will they be available?
Fairly soon.
Is the Minister aware that, if the slaughter on the roads continues, over 700 people will be killed before the end of this year? Is he aware that road legislation is no use unless the Garda or somebody are there to enforce it? Is he aware that there is a 60-mile limit and if you are travelling at 60 miles an hour, cars pass you one after the other doing up to 100 miles an hour? There is nobody there to enforce the Act. It is ridiculous to have new Acts if the existing ones are not enforced.
As to the figure of 700 which the Deputy gave, he is quoting a figure that I gave, a fairly accurate estimate. This is an unfortunate trend. As I have said on a number of occasions, and I have said it recently again, the level of enforcement, in my view, is not satisfactory. I would press for a greater degree of enforcement of the road traffic laws than at present. They are adequate if fully utilised and properly enforced. At the same time, one can devise laws to deal with situations and try to minimise the extent of such accidents but in the final analysis it is the degree of care, courtesy and consideration that is shown by drivers——
That is my phrase of ten years ago.
——and other road users which, in effect, determines the extent of accidents.
Could I ask the Minister if the section of the Road Traffic Act concerning testing for roadworthiness of cars has been put into operation?
That is a separate question.
It is not. It relates to accidents and the way to prevent them.
We cannot examine the details of road accidents.
I am asking the Minister if that part of the Act has been implemented as yet.
That is a separate question.
Can I ask a supplementary question?
A relevant one, yes.
Has the roadworthiness of cars been taken into consideration?
That is not relevant. It does not arise. The question does not mention it.
The Ceann Comhairle will agree that this is a very important factor in road accidents.
I will agree with nothing the Deputy says.
May I ask one final supplementary which I think is relevant? Would the Minister be in a position to state if there are any particular hours at which accidents are likely to happen and, if so, is he able to give any reason for this?
That is a separate question. If the Deputy reads the question, he will see that that does not arise.