The purpose of the engagement of ERM was to advise on any restrictions that should be imposed on planning and development in and around airports against the background of possible airline crashes. That type of study would not be relevant to situations in which pedestrian casualties result from traffic accidents.
Third party insurance cover against civil liability arising from the negligent use of a motor vehicle on a public road is compulsory under the Road Traffic Act 1961, including such civil liability to pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users. Under the 1988 agreement between the then Minister for the Environment and the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland, compensation is payable by the bureau to innocent victims of road accidents involving uninsured drivers and untraced vehicles, in accordance with the terms of the agreement. Such compensation covers personal injuries and injury to property in the case of accidents caused by uninsured drivers and personal injury in the case of accidents alleged to have been caused by uninsured drivers.
In this country the primary immediate investigative role in road accidents is vested in the Garda Síochána. Priority in such an investigation must be given to the determination of the causes of road accidents and in particular to the determination of whether a breach of the road traffic laws contributed to an occurrence. Garda reports on road traffic accidents are forwarded to the National Roads Authority and subsequently to each local authority for the purpose of establishing accident trends and causes generally and to facilitate the carrying out of remedial works relating to road infrastructure where such action is deemed to be necessary.