Road Traffic Offences

Wednesday, 3 February 2021

Ceisteanna (563, 564)

Thomas Gould

Ceist:

563. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the number of road traffic collisions involving underage drivers in each of the years 2010 to 2020, in tabular form. [5221/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Thomas Gould

Ceist:

564. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the number of road traffic collisions involving learner drivers in each of the years 2010 to 2020, in tabular form. [5222/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 563 and 564 together.

I have requested a Garda report on the figures requested by the Deputy. I will write to the Deputy once the report is received.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to Parliamentary Questions 563 and 564 which were for answer on 3 February 2021, in which you asked “the number of road traffic collisions involving underage drivers in each of the years 2010 to 2020, in tabular form” and

“ the number of road traffic collisions involving learner drivers in each of the years 2010 to 2020, in tabular form”

You will recall that the information could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to consult with An Garda Síochána and contact you again when the information was available.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Garda Síochána Analysist Service (GSAS) have examined all Fatal, Serious and Non-Serious Road Traffic Collisions for the period from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2020.

I am further advised that motor vehicles in Ireland are divided into different categories for different licensing purposes and different age limits apply depending on the license category required. The license category entitlements of each driver or motorcyclist is not information that is readily examinable and would involve a manual trawl through Pulse records. As a result, GSAS have used a cut-off of the age limit for each under-age driver of 17 years.

For your information the attached table at Appendix 1, as provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of collisions involving drivers or motorcyclists falling under the age of 17 for the years 2010 to end December 2020.

The table attached at Appendix 2, as provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of collisions involving drivers or motorcyclists holding a provisional licence for the years 2010 to end December 2020. For clarity, provisionally licensed drivers include both learner accompanied and learner unaccompanied drivers.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Appendix1

The number of collisions involving drivers or motorcyclists under the age of 17

	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Under-aged Drivers	31	20	24	18	21	20	26	18	26	26	29

* All figures provided are provisional, operational and subject to change.

· Figures are based on collisions which occurred from 2010-2020 inclusive. All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the PULSE and FCPS systems as was available on 28 January 2021 and is provisional, operational and subject to change.

· Note: 2020 traffic offence numbers generally need to be compared to other years with care due to the impact of COIVD-19 restrictions on traffic patterns and volumes.

Appendix 2

The number of collisions involving drivers or motorcyclists holding a provisional licence is as follows:

	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Provisionally Licensed Drivers	479	452	506	394	468	545	533	451	451	357	295

* All figures provided are provisional, operational and subject to change.

· Note: 2020 traffic offence numbers generally need to be compared to other years with care due to the impact of COIVD-19 restrictions on traffic patterns and volumes.