Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 7, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: "4. Where a section of road has had a reduction in speed limit after the commencement of this Act—

(a) a High Collision Location review must be undertaken by Transport Infrastructure Ireland within twelve months of a speed limit reduction taking effect, and

(b) recommendations of a High Collision Location review shall be binding and acted on by the responsible local authority.".

I thank the Minister of State for his opening statement.

The Minister of State outlined that road collisions are multifactorial events and are not caused by just one thing but by numerous things. The big lesson in all of that is that everyone we have had before the committee, and I have spoken about this at various locations in the past, has told us that drink and drug driving are the main contributors to accidents, as well as to speed, which is also a factor in many accidents. Of course, the falling number of gardaí and the issues we have around enforcement are also big factors. Those have to be recognised and, in fairness, the Minister of State has recognised them.

The amendments I am putting forward relate to instances where the speed limit on roads is reduced. In such circumstances, Transport Infrastructure Ireland should look at areas known as "high collision locations", which, in the past, would have been known as "accident black spots". Under my amendments, TII would have to look at those locations and make recommendations. We have heard of too many tragedies in recent times. Very often in such cases, the local information tells us that in the past, there have been multiple accidents on a stretch of road, at a particular junction or at a particular series of bends. I want to use this opportunity to ensure accidents cannot happen again. Where we look at these situations and decide to reduce the speed limits, TII would then do a review, look at those areas that need attention and make recommendations with which the local authority would have to deal to ensure those roads are made safer for the travelling public, whatever the relevant speed limit. That is the first amendment I have proposed.

The second amendment would require speed limit reviews to happen quickly and within no more than 120 days. I hear from some councillors around the country that it can be quite a long process and we need to shorten it and do this in a timely manner. That is why I have proposed these two amendments for which I hope I get the support of the Minister of State.