Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 June 2010
65 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on the recent international road safety conference on speeding facilitated by the Road Safety Authority at Dublin Castle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26839/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra77 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on the recent international road safety conference on speeding facilitated by the Road Safety Authority at Dublin Castle; if he will adapt or progress the proposal highlighted at the conference to advance the use of speed limiters in all vehicles sold in Irish and EU markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26840/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 77 together.
I recently attended the International Conference on Speeding hosted by the Road Safety Authority. Speeding has been recognised as the single most important cause of traffic death and injury across Europe. The conference was addressed by a range of experts, from home and abroad, who have particular experience and insights into speeding on our roads, its consequences and the use of safety cameras as a deterrent. There was a wide-ranging discussion about the sale of vehicles in the EU with the capability of driving at well above the maximum permitted speed limits. This is a matter to be addressed at EU level under the vehicle type approval system. As far as I am aware, there are no proposals to employ speed limiters, as used in Heavy Goods Vehicles and buses, in private cars.
Under Action 106 of the Road Safety Strategy 2007 — 2012, the Road Safety Authority monitors research on in-vehicle technology. One aspect of that research is on ISA (Intelligent Speed Adaptation). ISA uses information about the road on which the vehicle travels to make decisions about what the correct speed should be. I understand the Road Safety Authority's Policy Advisory Panel are currently reviewing the research available on all in-vehicle technology at the moment including ISA.
