Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

Like all other speakers, I welcome this legislation. As Deputy Finian McGrath said, we should support common sense legislation when it comes before the House, regardless of any other differences we might have. The ongoing legislative initiative aimed at tackling road traffic carnage and road deaths is a work in progress. It is working. Road traffic deaths fell by 48% in the ten years to 2010. The number of people killed on the roads that year - 212 - was the lowest since records began in 1959. Every one of those deaths, like every one of the 142 road deaths so far this year, is a story of tragedy for the family and community in question. Each road death is unacceptable because it leaves a mark on the affected family and community forever. It is probably unrealistic to expect to eliminate road accidents and deaths entirely, but we have to strive to meet that aim.

Most accidents are caused by defective roads, defective vehicles or defective drivers. This Bill seeks to deal with one aspect of the issue of defective drivers. Those who drive when they are tired, when they are under the influence of drink or other substances, or in a reckless manner can be defective in their driving. I commend the RSA, the AA and the Minister's office for working together on initiatives aimed at increasing driver awareness of these issues. For example, learners cannot get a learner driver permit until they have passed the theory test. They then have to take 12 hours of lessons - no more than one hour at a time - at an accredited driving instruction school. The new system costs learners money but also allows them to demonstrate their commitment to acquiring enough skills to take sole responsibility for a vehicle. It is a question of driving responsibly.

I would like to speak about the drink driving blood alcohol limit. This legislation would probably have been unacceptable ten years ago. Over the last ten years, we have seen a gradual but continuous acceptance of the fact that drink driving does not work. Drinking impairs the ability of drivers to make sound judgments. Statistics show that one in three accidents results from drink driving. In a survey, some 87% of drivers said it was shameful and irresponsible to drink and drive. I suppose we have to continue to worry about the 13% of drivers who do not share that view.

I suggest that drink driving is a generational issue. It is accepted that younger people, notwithstanding that they tend to drive at greater speeds, have a more responsible attitude to drink driving. They were brought up to think that way. It has been much more difficult for older people to change their attitudes. As other speakers have said, it used to be customary for people in rural areas, in particular, to go out and have a couple of pints before driving home at a speed well under the speed limit. That is not acceptable any more. This Bill will change the legal blood alcohol limit to a level that is generally accepted across the world. When the limit in Australia was reduced to 50 mg, the number of road deaths in Queensland decreased by 18% and the number of serious collisions decreased by 14%. It is effective. We cannot run away from it. We have to follow best practice and put it into law here.

This legislation will pass through the House shortly. It will be law within a couple of weeks. As other Deputies said, we need to consider the next steps. We should continue to improve the quality of the vehicles on our roads. The quality of the road network is a particularly challenging issue in these financially constrained times. We need to educate our young people and maintain their awareness of these issues. It is important to continue to improve vehicle standards.

See this speech in context