Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him and Deputy Áine Brady for sharing their time. I support the amendment to the motion. It is important that we continue to highlight the achievements made in road safety and the curtailment of deaths on the road. The more debates we hold in this House and through the media, the higher the issue will remain on the public agenda. Road safety comes from road users exercising due care and attention but that can only be ensured through public debate. Much of the debate on enforcement focuses on passenger cars, which is understandable given that the majority of road users drive cars. The Government's strategy has been focussed on the use of seat belts, reducing speeding and addressing the issue of drink and drug driving.

I welcome the Minister's remarks on mandatory testing at accident sites and the necessity of ensuring that accident victims are not jeopardised medically through the use of invasive testing methods. Some Opposition commentators are following a red herring in this area because if somebody is not deterred by fear of an accident from taking a course of action, he or she is unlikely to be deterred by the threat of mandatory alcohol testing. While it is welcome that we are trying to ensure perpetrators do not evade the law, that will not lead to a reduction in accidents. The biggest deterrent to driving while under the influence of alcohol is the risk of being apprehended by gardaí as part of visible mandatory alcohol testing campaigns. We have to put the matter in perspective.

In regard to enforcement, it is important we consider other vehicles in addition to passenger cars, including heavy goods vehicles. An argument may be made for introducing legislation on speed governors because I am not convinced from my regular travels late at night that HGVs are staying within speed limits. Clearly, the implications for that are significant. Greater enforcement of tachographs is probably also needed.

Penalty points have brought positive results in terms of fostering better compliance on speeding and, alongside enforcement, appear to be bringing a change in culture. We can have all the enforcement we want but without a shift in culture towards safer driving methods, we will be at nothing.

The Departments of Transport and Education and Science might develop a more cohesive approach to dealing with the issue of driver behaviour by ensuring that the next generation of drivers will have a better understanding from an earlier age of the use of the road.

The benefits of a reduction in the number of accidents and deaths on the road are significant for all of us. Deputies regularly discuss the challenges faced by accident and emergency units, many of which arise from needless accidents brought about by driver behaviour, drink driving and downright carelessness. Ensuring safer roads will have positive effects not only on those whose lives are affected by accidents but also on our health service.

We should be careful when analysing statistics. I noted the suggestions made by some in the Opposition that deaths on the road have not been controlled. The issue should be considered between certain pillars and, while there will always be peaks and troughs, it is necessary to examine when people are on the move and whether a single accident causes multiple fatalities. We have to analyse trends over periods of time rather than concentrate on snapshots. The number of road deaths has decreased by 11% since 2001. I have not had the opportunity to study the latest numbers on car usage but I am sure the figures have increased significantly since 2001. Account must be taken of all the parameters rather than merely studying the raw numbers when dealing with statistics.

The Government's investment programme has led to safer roads. However, the better and more technically safe our roads are the more likely people are to speed on them. I have seen areas that were previously accident black spots due to hump back bridges, acute bends and so on where the result of the removal of such dangers has been the creation of a raceway. Boy racer activity and disorderly behaviour at night may take place on such improved roads and this can only be dealt with through enforcement but it is a by-product of Government investment. Speed is a factor in many accidents and must be addressed through enforcement.

Statistics on driver suicide through single-vehicle accidents do not exist so it is difficult to track this pattern but it is an issue that has been raised and sad as it is the matter must be taken into account. This may be complicated by those who consume alcohol and intend to take their lives in single-vehicle accidents.

The Government cannot take responsibility for all road deaths and significant improvements have been made and will continue. Publicity is an important factor and Charlie Bird presented an important clip on RTE news each month that, in stark terms, set out the age and family circumstances of those who died on the road in the previous month. They also set out the impact of the deaths in communities and the bulletins could only have a positive impact in influencing our behaviour on the road. This is a public service obligation that RTE should continue. Indeed, it may be doing so but I do not have as much time as I had to watch the news.

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