Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)

It gives me no pleasure to discuss the issue of road safety on the basis that I come from an area which has endured a significant number of roads deaths over the past 18 months. Deputy Mulcahy said one life lost is one too many. If Deputies had attended as many corpse houses of young people under the age of 23 or 24 as I have, it would focus minds on the fact we all have a responsibility to ensure all those on the roads at the same time as us are safe. In one sense, I am delighted to get the opportunity to speak on this issue but it raises the question for me and for the many people in my constituency who are grieving having lost someone and wondering what we could have done to prevent these deaths. If events have had one result, they have focused people's minds in my area on that question. I do not believe any one approach or any one Government will provide a solution to this issue. We must take a broader approach. We probably need pilot schemes in particular areas.

An issue which is not helping is the fact the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government deals with certain roads while the Department of Transport deals with others. I tried to get fluorescent bands placed around the base of traffic islands so that if the lights failed for whatever reason, the car light would reflect on the band. Each time I asked the Department of Transport, I was told it was the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and when I asked that Department, I was told it was up to the county councils. Each county council has the right to make a decision in that regard. There is also the question of whether roads funding and other issues relating to roads should be the responsibility of one Department instead of being split between at least two Departments. Perhaps that would result in a better focus.

The recent speed limit changes have resulted in speed limits on some roads being too high while being too low on other roads. The speed limits are not realistic. There should be some way to expedite the process whereby roads, particularly on which speed limits are the equivalent of 50 km/h, are brought back to 60 km/h where appropriate conditions are met. There is no point looking for the traffic corps to implement speed limits which are unrealistic.

I welcome the recent assignment of a traffic corps to my peninsula. I am glad it is focusing on the real issues. On its first weekend, it caught seven drunk drivers. People must know they will be caught. However, that is not the only issue. There is no point always going out with a big stick. People must have a sense of responsibility. When we are driving, our passengers and ourselves must feel safe and other drivers must get a sense that we respect ourselves and others. Car safety programmes are in place in Sweden, an issue I will raise with the Departments of Transport, the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Education and Science. A successful programme is being run in Sweden on passenger safety with the intention of awarding passenger licences. It is aimed at primary schools so that as children are growing they develop a better understanding of the implications of speeding and carelessness on the road. We should consider such novel programmes adopted by other countries in the context of road safety.

Drink and drug driving must constantly be tackled. My committee had a debate on the increasing use of drugs earlier. If fatalities or serious injury are caused by a road crash, the drivers involved should be mandatorily breath tested. Advanced driving courses are needed. While the cost of car insurance has decreased, which is welcome given the difficulties experienced by young drivers, insurance should be used to encourage people to improve their driving on the basis that if they drive well, their premia will be reduced. That is a carrot as opposed to a big stick. More interaction is needed between the Garda and our youth on the issue of responsible driving. Driving lessons for transition year students on school grounds have been suggested. They can learn to drive in a confined, safe environment and develop good driving practices. Designated safe areas for young people to drive at speed have also been suggested so that they can get their adrenaline rush. Young people driving dangerously in souped up cars is a desperate problem and they are a danger to other drivers. The Department of Transport should be responsible for all roads issues.

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