Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister to the House and the introduction of the Bill. Since first being elected to the Seanad and becoming transport spokesperson, the main issue that has dominated most of our debates is road safety. Through successive Ministers and Ministers of State we have had various debates and statements on all aspects of road safety and it is welcome that the culmination of that debate is the presentation of a Bill because our role here is to enact legislation relating to issues we regard as being of importance in society. There has been much discussion with people from all sides of the House who gave their views in terms of their personal experience and the experience in various constituencies throughout the country. The introduction of the legislation is therefore especially welcome at this time. The Bill is part of a package of measures and a series of transport Bills and strategy statement documents that will ultimately bring about the change in culture we all want and which we hope will result in a considerable reduction in loss of life on the roads.

The main theme of the Bill is road safety. We are all aware of the numbers of deaths on our roads. Few families have not been affected in some way by a road accident. When we consider road accidents we tend to concentrate on road deaths but it must be remembered that fewer people are being injured on our roads. We tend to concentrate on the number of deaths but the reduction in the number of people seriously injured or maimed for life is very welcome. That is an area on which we must concentrate. It is also important to ensure that with a reduction of accidents on our roads there is a corresponding reduction on the burden on accident and emergency units in our hospitals, something with which we are all familiar and which is discussed here regularly in terms of health Bills and health issues generally.

I am aware of the progress made in recent years in tracking road deaths. Success in this area has been underpinned by the launch of the national road safety strategy which sets out clearly the Government's agenda until 2006 in terms of the type of approach it intends to take and the results that are expected. I congratulate the Minister of State and the Department officials on the progress that has been made. I acknowledge also the progress made by the Minister's predecessor.

The downward trend in fatalities continued in 2003 when the lowest number of fatalities since 1963 was recorded — approximately 336. That is particularly welcome. I realise there has been a blip this year to some extent but we must examine the question of road deaths over a wider sample period. It is not necessary to look at it on a year by year basis. It must be examined on a three to five year cycle and the road strategy document reflects that.

The successor to the initial strategy was published recently and its primary target is to realise a 25% reduction in road collision fatalities by the end of 2006. That would mean there would be no more than 300 deaths per year by the end of 2006. It is probably wrong to say "no more than 300 deaths" because any death on our roads is tragic when one considers the consequences for the family involved and the knock-on effect on our health service and insurance sector.

The Bill provides for a number of initiatives covering fixed charges and penalty point systems introduced under the Road Traffic Act 2002, focusing in particular on the out-sourcing of certain functions relating to fixed charge payments from the Garda Síochána. I welcome that because for too long we talked about the difficulties associated with the gardaí in that many of them are involved in administrative duties. That is not good in terms of their career development or the delivery of the service, which is their primary function. They must be seen to be active in society. That initiative will be welcomed both by gardaí and the wider society.

The introduction of the new Garda traffic corps and the increased Garda numbers will do much to deter people from drink driving, which is without doubt one of the primary factors in the number of road fatalities. The introduction of the Bill before Christmas — Senator Burke also raised this issue — may be lost on people among the myriad other activities taking place at this time. I hope that the passing of the Bill in the run in to Christmas may focus people's attention on a safer approach to the use of their cars and that they will not use them while under the influence of alcohol, something that becomes particularly difficult in the Christmas period. I also hope the heightened awareness associated with the regular campaigns that take place at this time of the year and the fact that the Bill, having passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas, will be enacted will focus some attention on it.

The focus of the Government's policy is on the key areas of speeding, drink driving and seat belt wearing to reduce the number of deaths but we must also consider the injuries that occur as a result of road accidents. We should concentrate on reducing the number of accidents rather than focusing on the deaths, although I realise one follows from the other but people fail to realise the enormous damage associated with injuries, the cost to the families and people involved and the cost and burden on the health service.

Through the continued high level of direct Garda enforcement it is envisaged that by the end of the period of the road strategy in 2006, at least 50% of the overall vehicle fleet will pass through a speed check each month. As the national fleet of registered vehicles numbers over 1.85 million, this will require an annual number of checks of approximately 11.1 million. That is a huge move away from the current position and it is a target the Government has set itself. It will be difficult to reach it but I have no doubt it will be reached, and it is something that will be welcome in an overall context.

I wish to raise a number of issues regarding the presence of gardaí on our roads. While the operations of the Garda fall outside the remit of the Department of Transport, it is worth mentioning them. I have long held the view that many road fatalities tend to take place late at night in rural or semi-rural areas. They tend not to be on our highways where most of the concentration of detection has taken place. We would be well served by ensuring there is a greater level of Garda activity in our villages and county towns throughout the country in the late and early hours of weekends. The issue of young people coming out from discos, getting into high-powered cars and attempting to drive home while under the influence of alcohol, and even drugs, and the element of showing off that goes on has caused many deaths on the road. That must be addressed. Policing those areas in a concentrated and focused way would have a significant impact on changing behaviour. Similarly, the presence of highly visible gardaí patrolling villages and towns late at night would act as a deterrent to those people and could be the key to stopping them attempting to drive home. Many of the young people involved could get taxis home because the number of taxis in rural Ireland is far greater than was the case when I was growing up. That is something that should be focused on. It is about changing that culture and taking those young people out of harm's way.

There is also a necessity to examine the culture of driving among young males in particular who are often referred to in the tabloids as the boy racers. The Government will have to address that problem in some way, whether by dealing with the size of engine they can be licensed to drive or the State insisting that some type of governing mechanism is placed on the engines to ensure they cannot go above a certain speed. That is a topic that needs further discussion. Sufficient emphasis cannot be placed on the issue of policing in rural areas. Policing such areas would act as a deterrent and it would be a confidence building measure for people who are intimidated by congregations of young people in villages and towns late at night when discos and bars close. Good policing would lead to good behaviour in the community and it would prevent tragic accidents on our roads. I am too familiar with this having witnessed many young people's lives being taken in road accidents in my own county, Clare; alcohol and drugs have played a role in them. Many of these accidents occur late at night on rural, unimproved roads. No matter how many speed cameras are put in place, such roads will not be policed, and, therefore, the policing of these areas needs to be examined. That will help to change behaviour and it will be a vital element in the delivery of the targets set by the Minister.

We all need to drive more carefully and slowly during the forthcoming festive period. Senator Paddy Burke referred to people's annoyance when they are stuck behind other cars. However, none of us should tailgate and we should give ourselves and the car in front more space. We must be alert to more vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, the young and the elderly. I am no angel in this regard as I rush to and from meetings and to and from Dublin and I get caught up in my own little world. I have often overtaken a car on my way to Dublin but as I arrived in Dublin the same car was there almost as soon as I was.

We must find further ways to instil in our young people at an early age the importance of responsible driving. I am not sure whether that should be a feature of the school curriculum. While pupils who leave school and attend universities may be qualified to study, they are not educated about the basics in life. When they buy cars, they have not had training in this regard in school. Conveyancing is another issue for young people.

The Irish School of Motoring in conjunction with Mondello Park race track recently launched a new initiative to teach young people to drive responsibly and to promote education on the dangers of speeding. That is the way we should go and I hope the Minster of State will open discussions with the Minister for Education and Science in this regard. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has been involved in the programme to which I refer but there should be a crossover between Departments.

Under the national safety strategy 2004-06 the enforcement of the drink driving laws will result in one in four vehicles being screened on an annual basis. Senator Paddy Burke and others referred to metrification, which is an important issue, as is the North-South divide. Penalty points were introduced in this State and there is a similar system in the UK but the unification of those systems is important. There is a great deal of concern because Northern drivers have little, if any, regard for speed limits and the Garda is unable to follow up on speeding charges, which should be addressed.

Senator Burke also referred to the insurance issue. I had discussions with the representatives of the Law Society who say it has no impact on solicitors. There is concern, however, about the balance between what a driver is legally required to be insured for and their potential ultimate liability. The Department has suggested that because such a small number of cases are involved, the issue is not relevant. If so, why are insurance companies pushing the case that it could ultimately prevent them from providing cover? They take an actuarial perspective and if the insurance shortfall is of such little significance to the person who is to be insured, why are insurance companies prevented from covering the shortfall? Hopefully, the Minister of State will allay our fears in this regard and perhaps we will discuss it further on Committee Stage.

I am concerned about people who use high occupancy vehicles and buses because they might have to pass on the cost of the increased insurance to the users of their services so that if they have an accident, they are covered. They will have to provide the cover from their own reserves. I seek the Minister of State's view on this.