When the Government's road safety strategy for 1998-2002, entitled The Road to Safety, was published, it outlined a number of policy initiatives to help improve the level of safety on our roads. While the document addressed a number of areas, the main aim was the reduction of road fatalities, in regard to which we have been successful. The target at the time was set at a very demanding 20% – far more than the 15% proposed at EU level. It was also hoped to reduce the number of serious injuries sustained through road accidents by the same margin. A lot of statistics are bandied around about reducing the number of road accidents but accidents will occur wherever human beings are involved in the use of mechanically propelled vehicles. The important thing, however, is to reduce the number of fatalities. I am happy that will occur following the reduction of speed levels. Even at 60 mph accidents will happen as a result of human error but if speeds are kept to lower levels, lives will be saved.