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Road Safety.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 October 2004

Wednesday, 13 October 2004

Ceisteanna (154, 155, 156)

Gerard Murphy

Ceist:

155 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if it is necessary for a person who is exempt from wearing a seatbelt due to long term illness to renew a doctor’s letter on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24764/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The format of the medical certificate to be completed by a registered medical practitioner in respect of a person to whom an exemption from the requirement to use a safety belt applies is prescribed in the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) No. 3 Regulations 1991. The certificate provides for the medical practitioner to specify the period of validity of the certificate. In the case of a person with long term or permanent grounds for exemption the medical certificate may be for an indefinite period.

Ciarán Cuffe

Ceist:

156 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Transport when he intends publishing a new national road safety strategy. [24788/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The programme for government states that a three year road safety strategy will be developed to target speeding, drink driving, seatbelt wearing and pedestrian safety in order to reduce deaths and injuries. Following preparation by the high level group on road safety, a new strategy for the period 2004-06 was published on 24 September 2004. Copies of the strategy are available in the Oireachtas Library.

In preparing the new strategy account was taken of the achievements in meeting the targets set out in the Road to Safety Strategy 1998-2002, a comprehensive review of that strategy and further positive trends established in 2003 and the evolving developments in the EU third road safety action plan.

The strategy, which includes a report on progress achieved during the term of the previous strategy, outlines a range of issues that it is intended will be pursued over the period in question. In overall terms, measures will focus on the areas of education, enforcement, engineering and legislation and will target the key areas of speeding, driving while intoxicated and seatbelt wearing. The comprehensive range of measures set out in the new road safety strategy will ensure that we can build on the success of recent years — a reduction from 472 road fatalities in 1997 to 336 in 2003, a fall of 28% — over a period when the number of vehicles, drivers and kilometres travelled on our roads have increased significantly.

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

157 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if he will make available the response from the four Dublin local authorities to the issues highlighted by the AA and SIMI in respect of areas in which, in their view, speed limits should be altered. [24795/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The submissions made by the four Dublin local authorities in respect of suggestions made by the AA for changes to speed limits in Dublin are being forwarded to the Deputy.

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