Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:315 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his proposals to reduce the number of accident black spots; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29792/00]
Written Answers. - Road Safety.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:328 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the action he will take to eliminate the large number of accident black spots throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29830/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 328 together.
The Government Strategy for Road Safety 1998-2002 recognised the need for safer roads and included improvements at identified high accident locations among a range of measures designed to deliver this objective.
In relation to the national road network, the strategy set a quantified target of implementing specific accident reduction measures, under NRA co-ordination and financing, at more than 400 additional locations by 2002. Measures of this kind have to date been put in place at some 293 additional locations on national roads and a further 69 remedial measure schemes will have been approved by the end of 2000.
The Government strategy noted the greater difficulty of accurately identifying high accident locations on the non-national road network. It proposed first to improve the identification of such blackspots through appropriate geographic information systems, GIS, and that, with the assistance of this improved information and guidance from NRA, local road authorities should develop counter-measures in relation to accident blackspots on non-national roads.
Improved GIS systems have now been widely implemented in line with the above. In addition, a new sub-programme of the non-national roads programme has commenced this year, and will continue, with the objective of reducing accident blackspots on non-national roads. In this first year of the sub-programme, it is estimated that some 45 blackspots will have been treated. This programme is expected to continue next year.