Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)

I propose to share time with Deputies Catherine Murphy and Boyle. Like the previous speaker I believe the key is enforcement. Any progressive measures to combat the carnage on our roads and prevent unnecessary loss of life by significantly reducing preventable motor accidents will be welcomed by Sinn Féin and all Members. Some 399 people lost their lives on Irish roads in 2005 and 185 have died this year as of 19 June. This is an increase of 11 on last year's figure.

This Bill will contribute to road safety but it contains flaws. It is important we pass legislation as quickly as possible but flaws must be highlighted and changes made. The introduction of mandatory alcohol testing seems a positive step. The problem of drink driving is particularly acute and such a measure is expected to deter people from taking risks and detect those that do. This can be equated with random breath testing, an obvious method of increasing detection of those irresponsible drivers who consume alcohol before driving. I have no problem with this concept as long as it is not used to target certain individuals. A superintendent is required to authorise a checkpoint and this provides a balance. Random breath testing was first mooted during the tenure of Deputy Brennan as Minister for Transport. The delay in its introduction has cost lives.

The increase in punishment has been due for some time. Drunk drivers can currently face bans of as little as three months if convicted of driving while over the limit. This minimum penalty will be doubled with the passing of this Bill. Disqualification periods and fines will also increase.

Section 5 stipulates that a driver caught with a certain alcohol intake over the limit will pay €300 and receive a six month ban. However, drivers who challenge their case in court and are subsequently found guilty will face heftier punishment and a minimum 12 month ban. This policy of deterring people from a court hearing is contentious. Citizens should have a right to access the courts and should not be penalised for opting to exercise this right. All such drivers should be treated equally and guilty drivers, whether they choose to challenge the case in court or not, should be liable to equivalent repercussions for similar offences instead of discriminating against those who challenge the case in court.

A review of drink driving laws is needed. Although many campaigners have called for a blanket ban on alcohol before using a vehicle, the same amount of alcohol affects everyone differently. Greater awareness of the effects and dangers of drink driving should be made a priority. We must challenge the mentality that drinking a couple of pints and then driving is acceptable. The Minister referred to young people but people of our generation are the major problem. One sees people driving at closing time but there is a way to respond to this. Instead of public order, we need to invest in high-visibility Garda checkpoints and patrols at closing time.

I call on the Ministers for Transport and Education and Science to finalise a plan to introduce road safety as an integral part of the secondary school curriculum. Transition year could be used to educate our future drivers on how to drive responsibly, as is the case in the United States. A talk on road safety delivered by a garda may have minimal effect on students but talks by victims of road accidents may be a positive step in hammering home the message of safe driving. Fines and penalty points alone will not change the minds of the driving public. Road safety is in everyone's interests and education is the key.

Another increasing phenomenon endangering lives on the roads is drug driving. The head of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety has warned that the extent of drug driving in Ireland is significantly underestimated. Eye-opening evidence from Scandinavian countries suggests that for every 100 people detected drink driving, 50 more have taken drugs before driving. The scale of drug taking among young people in Ireland is much higher than that of European countries. The explosion of cocaine use in this country, and the inadequate response to drug driving, will lead to an increase in drug taking. In the constituency I represent cocaine is freely available to all age groups. This Bill has no provision for testing for drug taking even though the Minister has acknowledged this is a serious, growing problem. Gardaí need to be trained to recognise behaviour and symptoms suggesting drug driving, as are members of police forces in other countries.

The provision for privatisation does not surprise me. The Bill will pave the way for private sector interests operating speed cameras and this is not a positive step. Private operators will be driven by profit rather than enhancing road safety. In private companies shareholders are all that count, to the cost of the greater common good. Drivers will be caught on motorways rather than on rural roads and roads with black spots. The monetary incentive to place cameras on such roads is a problem. Privatisation of a section of the law is not the answer and will not enhance public safety. It will result in indignation and frustration among Irish drivers.

Section 11 proposes the replacement of the provisional licence with a learner permit. Reforms to reduce long-term dependency on provisional licences are positive. Stipulating a minimum period during which a learner driver may not apply for a test will give learners time to complete necessary practice. Recently, a radio station invited transport spokespersons to undertake a test and we all failed. It is not just learners who need to learn but those who consider themselves safe drivers. People need to improve their driving skills and this should be examined.

The introduction of mandatory lessons will undoubtedly improve the overall driving ability of all concerned. However, it is stated that these regulations may require learner drivers to undergo a course of instruction. Clarity is needed on how many hours of instruction are envisaged and over what period. Driving lessons should be affordable to encourage their uptake, and the introduction of compulsory initial practical training for motorcycles——

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