Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2004
119 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons killed and injured in road traffic accidents to date in 2004; the way in which it compares with 2003; the steps he intends to take to cut road fatalities and injuries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26957/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatistics relating to road accidents, based on information provided by the Garda Síochána, are published by the National Roads Authority in its annual road accident facts reports. The most recent report is in respect of 2002 and that report, along with reports relating to previous years, is available in the Oireachtas Library.
Provisional figures for the number of road deaths in 2004 up to 1 November show there were 313 fatalities compared with 288 for the same period last year, which represents an increase of 25. While the increase in road deaths so far this year is a cause of immediate concern, it should be looked at against the background of the significant progress achieved, especially in recent years. In that context, the number of road deaths in the first ten months of this year is the second lowest figure since 1998, which was the first full year of the first road safety strategy.
The primary target of the new Government strategy on road safety is to realise a 25% reduction in road collision fatalities by the end of 2006 over the average annual number of fatalities in the 1998 to 2003 period. Achievement of the target will result in no more than 300 deaths per annum by the end of the period of the strategy and will assist in the achievement of the longer term EU target of a 50% reduction in road deaths across the EU by 2010.
To support the development of the new strategy, a major independent review of the previous strategy was carried out by an international expert on road safety. His report, which has been used to inform the development of the new road safety strategy, confirms that basing the primary targets on the achievement of progress in the areas of speeding, drink driving and seat-belt wearing, was the correct approach. For that reason, these remain the key areas of the new strategy. The strategy proposes a range of measures in the enforcement, engineering, education and legislation areas in order to target further reductions in deaths and injuries. An integrated strategic approach will ensure that the road safety agencies work together to achieve the targets set out in the new strategy.
