Desmond J. O'Malley
Ceist:14 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for the Environment the number of road accidents in which tourists were involved in 1996; and the action, if any, he proposes to take to make roads safer for tourists. [4994/97]
Written Answers. - Road Accidents.
Máirín Quill
Ceist:35 Miss Quill asked the Minister for the Environment if he has carried out an investigation into the causes of road accidents on a case by case basis in view of the horrific number of fatal accidents in 1996; and, if so, the measures, if any, he proposes to introduce arising out of this information. [4999/97]
Mildred Fox
Ceist:136 Ms M. Fox asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to ensure that information regarding the rules of the road is provided to foreign tourists to increase safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4906/97]
Mildred Fox
Ceist:139 Ms M. Fox asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to a campaign by a person (details supplied) in County Carlow to promote awareness amongst foreign tourists of the Irish rules of the road, particularly reminding them to drive on the left; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5377/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 35, 136 and 139 together.
All road accidents are investigated by the Garda whose reports are submitted to the National Roads Authority and are the basis for the annual road accidents facts report. The 1996 report will be available later this year.
The reports available to me do not provide information on the number of accidents in which tourists are involved. While there is no specific evidence to suggest that tourists are a high risk category of road user in Ireland, I am concerned about this matter. Special precautions are taken to assist visitors in their understanding and appreciation of driving, cycling or walking on our roads. These measures include special multi-lingual road signs, introduced last year, and multilingual information leaflets, provided by the National Safety Council and distributed via the major car-hire firms, including those operating from the airports and ferry terminals; both the signs and the leaflets focus on the requirement to drive on the left. I am considering what further measures, including signs and devices to be fitted on hired cars, could be introduced.
I am very concerned about the increase in fatalities and injuries generally on our roads in the last two years. Trying to reverse this upward spiral is a challenge to all of us. It is not a problem that lends itself to quick, easy solutions and new measures take time to achieve positive results.
The wide range of road safety measures being implemented on a continuous, year-round basis are aimed at making our roads safer for all road users. In addition, my colleague, the Minister for Justice, has assured the House that the Garda is committed to the rigorous enforcement of the Road Traffic Acts throughout the year.
The road safety together strategy, introduced last year, is focused on the four main areas of engineering, enforcement, education and encouragement. It is directed at all the responsible agencies and all road users who must work together to seek new ways to tackle the problem. Specific initiatives which I have recently taken include the introduction of on-the-spot fines for speeding offences, the publication of a traffic signs manual and a new guide to road safety engineering, and the development of a road safety initiative at county level. I have also provided support for the establishment of a driver instructor register. Work is being finalised in my Department on new traffic and traffic signs regulations and plans for a theory test for new drivers and compulsory vehicles testing are being advanced.