Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

I am glad to have the opportunity to say a few words on this Bill. The reduction of the blood-alcohol concentration limit for drivers has considerably reduced the numbers of people killed on our roads. It is fair to say that legislation which has reduced the blood-alcohol concentration limits has been generally successful.

Irrespective of the legislation in place, if people are taking the chance, there must be more random breath testing. Like all politicians, I do much travelling of the roads by day and especially by night, when the problem would be more acute. It has been months since I was stopped on the road or saw a random police checkpoint. Resources must be provided for gardaí to have more random checkpoints. That is the most effective way of ensuring that people will not abuse alcohol when driving.

Garda statistics show that the numbers of such checkpoints have increased but visibility is very important. If people are not reminded that there is random testing on a continuous basis, they may take a chance. I agree with the previous speaker, Deputy Conlon, in that people are far more responsible now and there are very few people taking the chance of drinking and driving. If people want to go out while driving, they would drink water or have a non-alcoholic drink. Very few people indulge in alcohol - even one drink - if they are driving. They do not want to take a chance because their lives and livelihoods, and those of others, are at stake if they drink too much.

As a nation we have had different problems. At times we had the problem of drinking and driving and there are other major problems, such as obesity. This is one problem we have addressed to some extent. Statistics have shown that under existing blood-alcohol concentration limits, 24% of fatal crashes have involved a driver above the legal limit. Alcohol is still a factor but this legislation, supported by all parties in the House, will have an effect.

There will also be an adverse effect on rural life. Those of us living in rural constituencies are aware that the rural pub - the pub at the crossroads or a small village - is the local community centre. It is where people congregate over the winter to play cards or partake in a quiz. It is part of social life, and not just for people living on their own but everybody in a rural area. The legislation will affect some people who drive. There may be one car in the house and such people may live on their own or with families. The reduced limits will have an effect and it is up to us as the providers of transport to act.

Those who are in a position to provide rural transport, whether through public or private means, should be encouraged. We will have to address this aspect of rural life more seriously because people who would normally drive to pubs but are rarely involved in accidents will not do so any more because of this Bill and the reduction in blood-alcohol concentration limits. People may have taken the chance before of having two drinks but with this reduction, they will not take the chance even of going for one drink.

The legislation will pose a difficulty and it is very important that the issue of rural isolation be seen as a problem. There are other reasons to consider and we should try to facilitate the people who want to use their local public house as a community centre throughout the year but especially in the dark nights of winter, which can be very lonely and depressing for some living in rural areas. A number of speakers have mentioned rural transport, which is something that must be addressed. The point has been made fairly strongly.

I have a serious concern about speeding. A large percentage of accidents are speed-related. I do not have the exact statistics and it may be very hard to prove that speed was the cause of an accident. However, speeding must be addressed in a major way in this country. Young people are very responsible in many cases with regard to driving and alcohol - they pool cars and take minibuses and so on - but they may not be as responsible when it comes to speed. The concept of boy-racing and having souped-up cars and engines is popular and leads to accidents. I have seen young people wiped out because of speed.

I hope the speed cameras will be rolled out shortly and have an effect. I understand that there could be up to 60 speed cameras around the country, although somebody mentioned they would only be operating for 6,000 hours, which is inadequate. They should cover the country and make a bigger impact, so the time allocation should be greater. Speed cameras will have a major impact when they are in operation.

It is some time since the contract for the cameras was awarded, and I was delighted when it went to a company in Listowel. That company beat off much international competition, which goes to show that a small company can have the competence for such contracts. It has international partners in France and Australia but it showed that an Irish company can compete successfully on the international market to get a contract. Will the Minister tell us the number of cameras involved, the time they will be in use and if there are any proposals to extend the length of time the cameras will be out there?

In places like British Columbia, there was a major reaction when the cameras were rolled out first because people did not know about them and were being prosecuted. It cost that government a term in office because people were so annoyed.

It is extremely important that people should be informed when these cameras are going to be put in place. They should be aware that such cameras can be placed in any location. I accept that they will be installed in certain designated locations. However, they must be also placed in random locations because, otherwise, people will drive at speed on the roads on which there are no cameras. There should be a campaign on television and radio and in local newspapers to advertise the fact that these cameras are going to be in operation and to warn people that if they are caught speeding, there will be consequences.

I accept that the installation of speed cameras will give rise to a great deal of inconvenience for everyone. I recall Deputy Ring making the case that politicians who are obliged to attend four or five funerals on the same evening must speed from one place to another. When these cameras are put in place, people will be obliged to become extremely disciplined in the context of how they drive. However, if these cameras help to save one life their installation will have been worth it. I am of the view that they will assist in saving many lives.

Major difficulties are going to arise in the summer months as a result of the state of local roads. Some 73% of all road deaths occur on local rural roads. Great progress was made on improving our local road infrastructure during the past ten years. Funding for upgrading these roads was increased by successive Administrations, including that in which the Leas-Cheann Comhairle served as Minister for the Environment. I recall that he introduced a three-year programme which proved quite successful. His work was continued by successive Governments and proved to be extremely effective. I cycle a great deal on our roads and I am of the view that one could choose any road and indicate how it had been improved.

Since the bad weather at Christmas, however, the surfaces on many roads have been destroyed. I do not believe the roads, many of which are pitted with extremely deep potholes, have been ever in a more dangerous condition. The reason our roads have been damaged to such an extent relates to a combination of high levels of rainfall followed by a number of very hard frosts. The resultant freeze-thaw action meant that the surfaces on many roads simply cracked. I accept that an issue may arise in the context of the composition of the material used on these roads. In general, however, the surfaces on many good roads have just fallen apart.

A major issue is going to arise in the context of fatalities and the number of crashes on the roads this summer. Many tourism attractions are accessed by means of local roads such as those to which I refer. Thankfully, it appears the number of tourists from America and other markets due to visit our shores this summer is set to increase. Such tourists normally rent cars and drive around the country. There will be a problem in that regard this year because the number of self-drive cars available has dropped from 28,000 to 10,000. However, there will be tourists driving on many of our local roads and they will have to be warned about the condition of those roads.

Money has been allocated to local authorities in respect of upgrading, repairing and strengthening road surfaces. If, however, other moneys can be found, they should be allocated in respect of the extensive repairs that must be carried out between now and June. The programme of upgrading, repairing and strengthening road surfaces should be completed by July. We must ensure that roads are made safe for local motorists as well as for the domestic and international tourists who will use them during the summer months. I appeal to the Minister to give careful consideration to that matter.

I welcome the legislation. The House has taken an extremely responsible approach to this matter. It would have been a populist move to oppose this Bill, particularly in light of the campaign organised by the Irish Vintners Federation, etc. Those involved in that campaign put forward strong arguments but we are doing the responsible thing. I hope this Bill represents just the first of a whole series of actions.

I wish to refer to the other causes of car accidents. In that context, people should not drive - neither should they be encouraged to do so - when they are tired. Many of the accidents that happen - even those which occur in the middle of the day - are the result of people nodding off at the wheel. This has happened to everyone at some point or another. Politicians operate in a pressurised arena and they may sleep for only four or five hours at night. As a result, they may be tired and in no condition to drive. People should act responsibly. If they feel tired while driving - either during the day or at night - they should pull over and take a nap.

Another cause of accidents relates to drug driving. Provision is made in the Bill to test drivers to discover whether they are under the influence of drugs. A similar provision in the state of Victoria in Australia proved to be extremely effective. Young people may not drink but they may take drugs. Some of them may be of the view that because it is difficult to detect certain drugs they will not be caught. It is important to get the message across to them that they will, in fact, be caught.

It is vital that the Garda presence on the roads must be increased. If the law is to be enforced in an effective manner, then more random tests must be carried out. It goes without saying that there is a need to educate people and to engage in advertising campaigns. The advertisements that have been broadcast on television in recent years have proven to be very effective. I accept that some of them might be extremely disturbing but they certainly get across the message.

The level of signage in the areas around accident blackspots should be increased. Where roads are in bad condition and pitted with potholes, local authorities should erect signs warning people to slow down. Whether they are electronic signs or just those of the ordinary kind, warning people to slow down because a road is in a dangerous condition can be of assistance. Due to the way in which certain roads were repaired over the years, some stretches may have been strengthened while others might be still in a perilous state. As a result, one can find oneself on a bad stretch before one knows it. Proper signage is, therefore, extremely important because it can prevent serious accidents. Some drivers who have come off a bad stretch of road often flash their headlights in warning at those travelling in the opposite direction. If people slow down, the likelihood of their having accidents on bad stretches of road certainly will be reduced.

I will end on a sober note. It is estimated that the cost of each death on our roads is approximately €2.2 million. In that context, the total cost relating to fatalities on our roads last year was €613.8 million. The more we can reduce the number of fatalities, the less grief families will experience. In addition, a great deal of money will be saved.

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