Written Answers. - Road Safety.
Liz McManus
Ceist:
12
Ms McManus
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
if he will provide additional funding for a road safety strategy; if his attention has been drawn to comments made by a person (details supplied) that the lives of 50 people could have been saved if the Government had properly resourced its road-safety campaign; his response to these comments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5147/01]
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Ceist:
17
Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the number of commitments that have been implemented in respect of the Government Strategy on Road Safety, 1998-2002; the number still to be implemented; when it is planned to implement the outstanding commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5148/01]
Liz McManus
Ceist:
21
Ms McManus
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the number of persons killed or injured in road traffic accidents during 2000 and 2001 to date; the steps the Government will take to deal with the carnage on our roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5146/01]
Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:
113
Mr. Gilmore
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the number of commitments that have been implemented in respect of the Government Strategy on Road Safety, 1998-2002; the number still to be implemented; when it is planned to implement the outstanding commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5264/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 17, 21 and 113 together.
The Government strategy for road safety 1998-2002, the first ever national road safety strategy to be adopted by the Government, has prioritised a systematic and co-ordinated set of measures for preventing and reducing road accidents. It establishes quantified targets for achieving its objectives, the principal of which is to reduce road deaths and serious injuries each by at least 20% by 2002 relative to 1997. Priority is accorded by the Strategy to actions targeted at speeding, alcohol, seat belt wearing and vulnerable road users. A timetable for key actions in these and other areas is also set out.
The Government strategy is monitored by the high level group on road safety, whose first progress report published in July 1999 and second progress report published in August 2000, detail progress with key actions. Copies of both reports have been circulated to all Deputies and are also available in the Oireachtas Library.
The second progress report shows that real and worthwhile gains are being made in road safety within the framework of the Government strategy. Road deaths decreased by 59, or nearly 13% between 1997 and 1999 relative to the strategy target of a 20% minimum reduction by 2002. Serious injuries decreased in the same period by over 15% relative to a similar reduction target of 20% by end 2002. The interim targets fixed by the strategy for achievement by 2000 have been well met.
Progress is also ahead of target in extending low cost accident measures across the national road network, with 268 schemes completed by end 2000 and a further 88 approved. On the other hand, recent NRA surveys have shown that considerable improvement will be needed in order to achieve road safety targets for reducing speeding and increasing seat belt wearing. There was also a small increase in the number of road deaths in 2000 over 1999.
Garda enforcement activity has been intensified and improved in accordance with the road safety strategy. More than 224,000 on the spot fines issued in relation to speeding offences in 2000, compared to 175,000 in 1999 and 130,000 in 1998. Fixed speed cameras are in operation on four of the main national routes out of Dublin and on the M50. Speed limit enforcement is also being supported by an increase in mobile speed detection, the use of laser speed detection as well as in-car and motorcycle cameras. At the end of 2000, approximately 84,000 on the spot fines had been issued for non-wearing of seat belts since the introduction of this measure in July 1999. The number of detections for drink driving in 1999 increased by 18% over 1998. Evidential breath testing is being progressively introduced in relation to drink driving enforcement.
The road safety strategy envisages a penalty points system in support of road safety enforcement. The Government approved the drafting of legislation necessary for this measure in July 2000. The design of the system has, as anticipated in the strategy, required careful consideration because of the exclusive constitutional role of the Irish courts in the administration of justice. The drafting of the Bill is now being finalised and I expect it to be published very soon. My Department is also working to ensure the availability of a national driver file, complete with penalty points functionality, within the present year.
Statistics relating to road accidents are published by the NRA in their annual road accident facts reports. The most recent report is for 1999 and that report, along with reports relating to previous years, are available in the Oireachtas Library. There were 413 road deaths in 1999 and 1,867 serious injuries. The report for 2000 is not yet available but Garda figures indicate that there were 415 road deaths in 2000 and 58 deaths to 19 February this year.
Ensuring compliance with the targets of the road safety strategy will command the full effort and support of the Government and its agencies. By reference to the estimates set out in the strategy in 1998, over 100 lives are now being saved each year as a result of implementing the strategy compared to a continuation of trends prior to 1998.
