Margaret Conlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

Táim fíor buíoch don Cheann Comhairle as an seans seo a thabhairt dom labhairt ar an mBille tábhachtach seo. Tá níos mó le déanamh againn sa tír seo chun básanna ar na bóithre a laghdú. Tá aithne maith agam ar go leor clann a chaill mac nó iníon, deirfiúr nó deartháir, athair nó máthair ar na bóithre. Chaill siad duine i dtimpiste bhóthair. Déanann an bás uafásach sin an-dochar don chlann fágtha ina dhiaidh.

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this legislation. Unfortunately, we have all witnessed, either personally or through friends, the devastation caused by road traffic accidents. My number one priority, and that of every Member of this House, is to protect people from death or injury on the roads. If one life is saved by enacting this legislation, then we will have done a good day's work. I would not want the hurt and devastation of a road accident to be visited on any other families if I could prevent it in some way.

We cannot have an À la carte approach to road safety, picking and choosing what we like, while ignoring what we do not like. We cannot decide to be a little bit safe. In recent years, there have been many accidents on the roads. I have been to too many funerals as a result of road accidents involving friends, past pupils and others I knew well. Some of these accidents occurred as a result of speed or were drink-related, while others happened through no fault of the road accident victim.

It is also important to recognise that not all road accidents result in fatalities. We have all seen the television advertisements which depict the disastrous and life-changing effects of road accidents. We must surely do everything in our power to reduce those statistics even more.

I welcome the Bill's provision that people who drive for a living will be subject to a blood-alcohol limit of 20mg. Bus and taxi drivers have a duty of care to their passengers. Such drivers should have a zero alcohol limit, but I understand that this is not practical because there are certain substances, like mouth-washes, that may contain a small amount of alcohol. This would make it difficult to enforce a zero limit. Professional drivers who are responsible for the safety of others on the roads need to be doubly responsible.

We all have a duty to ensure that we drive safely. Despite the imposition of penalty points, it horrifies me to see drivers still using mobile telephones. Despite all the warnings and regulations, they continue to engage in this practice. One cannot give the road one's full concentration if one has a telephone to one's ear. In some cases - I have also witnessed this - people attempt to write text messages while driving. This is a dreadful practice and it needs to be stopped.

Deaths on our roads have been reduced but, as I said before, one death is one too many. We need to keep up the momentum and keep repeating the message. We must encourage people not to drive if they take a drink. The message is getting out there. I do not think anyone in this House would condone drinking and driving. If one wants to drink, one should appoint a designated driver. People should not use their mobile telephones and should certainly reduce their speed. We have all seen, in towns and villages throughout the country, the boy racers who continue to drive at excessive speeds on our roads. As the saying goes, it is better to arrive late than dead on time.

More than 40% of road accidents are due to excessive speed. We need to ensure our young people are well prepared before they take to the roads. Young people often think they are invincible and a car gives them a sense of power. However, they must be responsible, because a car is a dangerous weapon. We have all witnessed the bad driver, the person out to impress, the show-off, the erratic driver, or the one who overtakes a line of cars at speed or on a dangerous bend. We must redouble our efforts to ensure these people are caught, as they pose a danger to themselves and to other sensible and responsible road users.

What about pedestrians? Are they not entitled to walk on our roads? They are, but they also need to exercise caution. How many times on a dark winter's evening have we come across pedestrians with no reflective jackets or lights, perhaps wearing dark clothes? They too have a duty to be responsible when they take to the roads.

I welcome the mandatory alcohol testing of drivers involved in road traffic accidents. This is necessary as it enables verification at the scene of the driver's blood alcohol level and clears the innocent driver straight away. I welcome the fact that this Bill gives the Garda the power to form an opinion on whether a driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs and to carry out tests in this regard. Unfortunately, people are using drugs and driving, and this must be dealt with in order to improve road safety.

Many people have mentioned rural isolation. I agree with Deputy Naughten that rural isolation is a major issue, but it is more of an issue during the day than at night. Rural transport is a also major issue, and I commend the Minister on ensuring the rural transport scheme remains in place. Much good has been done throughout the country due to the provision of services by Irish Rural Link.

See this speech in context