Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to make a final contribution. I could not agree more with what two of the previous speakers said - one being Ms Price who lives in my constituency - about the need for a Garda presence on our roads. That is critically important. I am delighted that an assistant commissioner now has responsibility for the traffic corps. I encourage him at every opportunity to fight to ensure the number of people working in this area is increased. Education is a key factor. That point was proven in December 2016 with the very good media campaign highlighting the dangers on our road. As a consequence of that, coupled with the Garda presence on our roads, there was a very significant reduction in the number of road fatalities.

It has been suggested that an app can be downloaded on one's mobile phone that will monitor one's driving patterns. That should be examined in greater detail. It would help influence policy and help correct the driving pattern of motorists. A person who always adheres to the law in terms of driving within the speed limit, the non-use of a mobile phone, wearing a seat belt, stopping at stop signs and all of that, could be rewarded with a cheaper insurance premium. That is a measure that the Road Safety Authority might examine and that our committee will examine. Someone will be appearing before the committee in the next few weeks or months with a proposal. We will be working with the RSA on that.

We did not have much discussion about vulnerable road users, namely, pedestrians and cyclists. I nearly knocked down a pedestrian before Christmas because he was walking on a country road, dressed in black from head to toe. It was the luck of God that I copped him in time and swerved out to avoid him. I have suggested previously that we should examine introducing a penalty for such behaviour as that person was acting irresponsibly. Not alone could his life have been lost but I could have pulled out in front of another car and caused a much more serious accident and a number of lives could have been lost. I would welcome the assistant commissioner's opinion on that.

In terms of proposal regarding a required distance to be observed in overtaking cyclists, I believe it is 1.5 m in rural areas and a reduced distance in urban areas. What is the assistant commissioner's view on the practicalities of implementing that legislation? It is unimplementable in some areas because of the width of roads. There is also the issue of the behaviour of cyclists. I met a cyclist on a Dublinbike cycling up the wrong way on Kildare Street on my way to Leinster House today. What measures are in place to police that behaviour?

We have had a very good interaction with the witnesses, albeit there was a difference of opinion in one area. Mr. Wilson spoke of the introduction of a gradient system of penalty points being a good system and a good suggestion for addressing the speed issue. The only gradient system we are currently discussing is in regard to the blood alcohol level, which we have been debating for two and a half hours. That is the only area where there has been an element of disagreement. I thank the witnesses for giving of their time. As one of them said, they are acting in a voluntary capacity. They have engaged very honestly and truthfully and I hope we on this side have done likewise. I look forward to engaging with the representatives of the association and with the Garda in working towards reducing the number of road fatalities because we want to halt and reverse the shocking upward trajectory of 2016 and to make sure that our roads are a much safer place in 2017.