Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The one thing that is very urgent regarding road safety is the infrastructure. In many parts of the country, our road infrastructure approaches 19th century conditions. The improvement of county roads is of particular importance. One major road between Mallow and Mitchelstown is like a corkscrew it has so many bends. There are narrow sections for the most part and huge black-spot bends. It is a major route, but the issues have still not been addressed. We could be talking about this from here to kingdom come if we do not get co-operation among local authorities, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, and various bodies, including the RSA and the NRA. There is a huge need for a major overhaul and vast improvement for our highly trafficked roads, particularly with regard to the onset of a huge volume of cyclists, cycling clubs and events. Cycling events as fund-raisers are fine as they are controlled, proper stewardship is carried out and the roads are closed off for the most part, but for daily commuting and recreational cycling there are issues. The roads are in hazardous condition and it is a wonder there are not more fatalities.

The increase in road accidents and fatalities in the summer was mentioned. What sort of road awareness campaign is being planned with summer approaching? There is a huge need to give an indication to people to leave good time to get to their destinations. Rather than to give themselves 20 minutes to get somewhere, for example, they should give themselves 30, which is not much more. Even I have the huge fault and habit of arriving just in time in normal conditions, which are not always there. One can suddenly find one is trying to pick up speed on the road to make a schedule. We need to bring in a huge sense of awareness. I agree with Senator Brennan. I saw around Clane, Kildare, a few years ago, a huge prevalence of speed bumps near schools. Kildare is one county where they are utilising speed bumps in a very efficient manner. Enforcement and compliance is impossible at all times because of the shortage of personnel to carry out policing. The other successful thing I see is the flashing signs which indicate to motorists the speeds at which they are travelling. If they are on an 80 km/h road, it shows that they are doing 90 km/h or 100 km/h. It is often the case on our regional roads. There is a need for a complete programme to put flashing signs in place.

There is a need for lay-bys and pull-in spaces on the main highways for people to rest. What are the statistics regarding tiredness? We have spoken about medicines, drugs and alcohol, but do we have statistics on fatalities from common tiredness? There is a huge need for improvements at junction exits and for public lighting at some. More public lighting is required in built-up areas. Signage for visitors from the continent which is common to their jurisdictions would be useful to keep drivers on the right side of the road. Even Britain has different signage. We have seen that rented cars are sometimes dangerous. We know the native drivers are also dangerous as well, but it is not right that sufficient warning signs are not there for people from other countries.