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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 24 Oct 2002

Vol. 556 No. 2

Written Answers. - Road Safety.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

115 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport his plans regarding the use of daytime running lights; the conclusions drawn from the review of the policy to date; the number of pilot programmes introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19653/02]

A pilot campaign by Dublin City Council to encourage the use of daytime running lights on a voluntary basis in the greater Dublin area has recently been completed. I understand that evaluation of the effects of the campaign is being conducted currently for the city council.

The European Commission decided recently to undertake a comprehensive study into the use of daytime running lights, DLR. The general aim of the project is to assess the positive road safety effects of DLR use and to investigate possible and perceived negative effects, including effects on vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and motor cyclists. It is intended that the results of the study should inform the future requirements of the European Union in this regard.

Decisions in regard to the use of daytime running lights in Ireland will take account of the evaluation of the Dublin City Council pilot campaign and the outcome of the comprehensive European Commission study.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

116 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the number of seat belt wearing surveys completed by the National Roads Authority in the past five years; the date of the last such survey; the proposed date for the completion of the next survey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19655/02]

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

128 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the details of the current reduction in speeding based on the 1997 figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19667/02]

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

129 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the details of the current reduction in seat belt wearing based on the 1997 figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19668/02]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 116, 128 and 129 together.

The National Roads Authority, NRA, carried out a nationwide seat belt survey in 1999 which showed that driver seat belt wearing rate increased marginally over the eight year period from 51% in 1991 to 55% in 1999. The survey also showed that male driver wearing rates declined slightly from 49% to 48%, female driver wearing rates increased from 61% in 1991 to 68% in 1999. The wearing rates for rear seat passengers in 1999 was 20%.

The NRA has carried out a further comprehensive seat belt survey this year. While the report is not yet finalised, preliminary indications show that substantial progress has been made in relation to seat belt wearing. The results of this survey will be available shortly.

The National Roads Authority carried out speed surveys on inter-urban sections of national routes in 1997 which showed widespread exceedance of speed limits, with 40% of cars exceeding the 60 m.p.h. speed limit and 26% exceeding the 70 m.p.h. motorway limit.

A national speed survey of free speeds was also carried out by the National Roads Authority in 1999 and published in 2000. The results of those surveys indicate that 51% of cars exceed the general speed limit of 60 m.p.h. on two lane national primary routes, with 13% in excess of 70 m.p.h.

Following these surveys, the high level group on road safety recommended in their second progress report that a revised target for speeding to reduce the number of vehicles exceeding the 60 mph speed limit on single carriageway national primary routes from 51% to 40% by 2002 should be set for the remainder of the strategy.

The NRA has subsequently carried out a sample free speed survey, based on a subset of the original sites from the 1999 survey and has also carried out a comprehensive speed survey, the results of which will be available shortly. Preliminary indications from this survey show that improvements have been made in relation to speeding on rural roads. The results of both and the seat belt survey will be used to gauge progress since 1999 and as a benchmark for future strategies.

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