Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

While the Minister of State contends that the legislation seeks to implement change by setting out speed limits in built-up areas, on local and regional roads, national roads and motorways, which are the four general road categories, I fear it will have no effect. If local authorities fail to act and implement sensible speed limits, we will not move on. The guidelines the Minister intends to include in the legislation may end up gathering dust as there is no onus on the office holder to ensure momentum. As some local authorities may be slow to act, it is important to have a mechanism whereby they can be made to make haste in implementing standardised speed limits. We need action to ensure local authorities seize the initiative. If they do not, motorists will continue to disrespect our speed laws.

I call on the Minister of State to explain to the House how, apart from using the metric rather than the imperial system, he expects reasonable, rational and workable speed limits to take hold. The Bill must not be allowed to become one which reads with good intentions but fails to deliver improvements in our speed-limit system. The Minister has a duty to ensure that local authorities work with the NRA to effect changes on the ground.

Speeding by heavy goods vehicles is a significant issue and the cause of many accidents. The problem must be addressed by the relevant authorities. Surveys of speed limits undertaken from 1999 to 2003, including the most recent NRA survey conducted last year, reveal that a high percentage of goods vehicles exceed the speed limits which apply to them. It is vital that we examine measures to ensure that these vehicles abide by the speed limits we have established for them. The legislation does not appear to include any measure to force goods vehicles to keep within the law. It is a pressing concern which must be addressed. I urge the Minister to explain what he proposes to do to tackle the issue.

Inaction by the Government, especially in the key area of road safety, is resulting in an increasing number of road deaths. To date in 2004, there have been 40 more deaths than in 2003. The figure will rise further before the end of the year. The statistics indicate that the initial positive benefits of the penalty-points system have begun to wear off. It is a trend about which we should be extremely concerned. It appears our slipping record on road safety is due in no small part to the patchy implementation and enforcement of the penalty points system. There have been numerous inconsistencies in the system's implementation.

We need a road courtesy policy for which the Garda has responsibility. Section 28 provides that it will be an offence to drive with reasonable consideration. Much driving of this kind results from the frustration drivers experience when travelling behind a line of slow moving lorries or a motorist who is impeding traffic by driving at the white line and preventing people from passing. As a result people at the back of long lines of traffic may drive dangerously and overtake on continuous or double white lines. A courtesy policy should be introduced whereby gardaí can ask people who are driving slowly to pull in to the slow lane or the hard shoulder. Such a policy would help to reduce the frustration many drivers feel and reduce the number of road deaths.

Controversies on convictions obtained with the toxic meter used to measure drink driving and the recent dismissal of cases brought in respect of speeding offences observed by radar gun have undermined public confidence in the penalty points system. Many people have begun to believe they can evade road safety laws. The absence of absolute enforcement of all aspect of road safety laws is eroding the penalty points system. As motorists can see for themselves and are told by many media pundits that one can drive the length and breadth of Ireland without encountering a Garda inspection point, it is little wonder they believe they can persistently break speed limits and get away with it.

On Committee Stage, I will go through those aspects of the legislation I have not had time to discuss. An amendment was introduced on insurance in the Dáil, to which I will refer and to which I will not offer support on Committee Stage in this House. There was no consultation on the matter apart from the pressure insurance companies brought to bear on the Minister. He should have consulted with IBEC and other bodies before amending the Bill. He is reading the issue incorrectly. It is the subject of a great deal of concern. People will feel they are not properly covered when the legislation is enacted. In the current climate in which insurance companies are making vast amounts of money while awards and premiums are being reduced, the matter requires further consideration. The system the Minister intends to introduce is not in place in England.