John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. I am sad and disappointed that 326 people have lost their lives on our roads so far this year. I know a number of the victims and their families. Numbers can be cold because they do not adequately reflect the significant suffering families endure. I recently visited the family of a 16 year old girl in my area who was the victim of a hit and run accident. No words can adequately express the grief the family is experiencing. However, in addition to the fatalities, a significant number of people have also suffered horrific, life changing injuries and they must also be considered.

While the annual number of fatalities on our roads increased from 335 in 2003 to 374 last year, as Deputy Mulcahy stated, it must be borne in mind that there is an ever increasing number of vehicles on the roads. Approximately 1,000 new vehicles are put on the road weekly. The introduction of the penalty points system resulted in a radical change in driver behaviour and attitudes and this led to the reduction in road fatalities in 2003, which was the lowest number for 40 years. While the number increased last year, it did not increase to the level experienced in the late 1990s. For example, there were 452 fatalities in 1997 and 458 in 1998, despite the increasing number of cars on our roads.

Perhaps we should examine a number of factors that have contributed to the improvement. The penalty points system has had a beneficial effect. The safety standard of new motor cars is improving all the time with new cars having more safety features. The national car test ensures older cars are better looked after. Many roads have been improved considerably in recent years and awareness and education campaigns have had a positive effect. Garda activity has increased with the establishment of the traffic corps being particularly welcome.

The question is often asked during debates on road safety about whether additional speed cameras would be a deterrent. I am a member of the Committee of Public Accounts and approximately one year ago we had an interesting meeting with officials of the Department of Transport and members of the Garda. We examined the operation of the existing speed camera system and one of the committee's clear findings was that the high visibility of mobile Garda patrols was beneficial. The committee was of the opinion that such patrols were the greatest deterrent. I am particularly pleased, therefore, that the Garda traffic corps, which was only established one year ago, will increase in size rapidly over the next number of years. By the end of this year, it is expected to comprise 563 members and it will comprise 805 by the end of 2006, which I welcome.

I have a reservation about the effectiveness of the GATSO vans used by the Garda. They often pull in beside main roads picking on soft targets. Garda enforcement should be targeted more at secondary roads, which are not designed to be driven on at high speeds, yet cars are driven at the speed limit of 100 km/h or above on these roads. Garda resources should be targeted at these roads. Other Members mentioned that local authorities have conducted reviews of speed limits and I agree they are still out of line with the standard of the roads. I visited County Cavan recently and travelled on a secondary road with a speed limit of 100 km/h. However, when I met an oncoming car, I had to pull into the ditch because there was not enough room for two cars. Appropriate speed limits and adequate enforcement are needed. The Garda concentrates too much on main roads when enforcing traffic laws. Many road accidents involving younger drivers take place at night on secondary roads where they drive at high speeds. The Garda needs to be more targeted in its approach.

The number of road fatalities in recent years indicates the introduction of penalty points had a significant initial impact but, like many other initiatives, its impact has waned. The extension of the penalty points system must be accompanied with education and public awareness campaigns if it is to continue to have the effect it had when it was introduced.

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