Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 April 2006
525 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport if there is a count provided to him of the number of lay-bys or stopping points for goods vehicles on national routes here; the details of same; if he has satisfied himself that the number is sufficient on road safety grounds; and the steps he is taking to provide more such stopping points. [15379/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra526 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the discussions he has had with the National Roads Authority on the provision of stopping points for motorists to allow the taking of a telephone call in view of the impending change in law. [15380/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 525 and 526 together.
Under Section 19 of the Roads Act 1993, the National Roads Authority, NRA, has responsibility for the provision of facilities for the parking of vehicles on national roads. Under Section 54 of the Roads Act 1993, the NRA has responsibility for the provision of service and rest areas along motorways. It is for the NRA to decide on the exact number and location of such facilities in both cases mentioned above.
The NRA carried out a review of its policy on the placement of service and rest areas on the major interurban routes. The authority completed this review in January 2006 and has published a policy statement on its website, www.nra.ie.
527 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 70 of 7 March 2006, why there is no evidence that heavy goods vehicles are significantly more involved in road collisions; and the way in which this conclusion has been arrived at. [15381/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatistics relating to road accidents, based on information provided by the Garda Síochána, are published by the National Roads Authority, NRA in its annual Road Accident Facts reports. The most recent report, now entitled Road Collision Facts, relates to 2004. That report along with reports relating to previous years are available in the Oireachtas Library and on the NRA website.
In 2004, there were 334 fatal accidents and 374 fatalities. Goods vehicles were involved in 20% of all collisions during that year. However, an NRA study relating to the number of vehicle kilometres of travel in Ireland in 2001 indicate that the average number of kilometres travelled by goods vehicles is significantly higher than other vehicle types. The average number of vehicle kilometres travelled for all vehicles is 19,947. In the case of goods vehicles, the average number of kilometres travelled is 27,381. There is therefore no evidence that heavy goods vehicles are significantly involved in road collisions, given that they have a significantly greater presence on our roads than other vehicles.
It is unfortunately the case however, that the consequences resulting from a collision with a heavy goods vehicle are generally more severe than with a smaller type of vehicle.
