Seanad debates
Wednesday, 14 May 2003
Road Safety: Motion.
I also propose to tackle issues in respect of motorcyclists. Quite a high number of fatalities involve motorcycles. I recently came across statistics – I should have got them earlier, I am staggered by them – which illustrate that 70% of motorcyclists do not hold a full licence. This means that only 30% of all motorcyclists on the road have a full licence. Some 70% of them have no training, have not taken a test and have not received a single day's instruction. They simply buy a bike and obtain a provisional licence and off they go. Many deaths on our roads involve motorcyclists. We also need to tackle the issue of pillion passengers. I am informed by the insurance companies that pillion passengers account for 90% of fatalities on motorcycles. It is illegal for someone with a provisional licence to carry a pillion passenger on a motorcycle. Insurance companies are paying out in such circumstances. I am not suggesting that they should not do so. I plan to tackle that issue in the next couple of weeks. I am looking in particular at the introduction of a compulsory test or course for motorcyclists before provisional licences are granted. I intend to examine the age at which a person is allowed to drive a motorcycle. I consider 16 years of age to be too young. I am aware that the age limit rises to 18 years of age in respect of different sizes of motorcycles. We must take a serious look at this area. The statistics also state that more than 10% of those killed on motorcycles were not wearing helmets.
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