Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Wilson for sharing his time. Like Senator Norris, I regret a motion must be tabled on this issue. We should have statements because there is a great deal of unanimity in regard to the approach to this issue and agreement that we continue to fail in our efforts to reduce the number of deaths on the roads. However, that does not mean the willingness does not exist on all sides of the House to try to implement a strategy which will reduce the number of deaths.

Since 1998 there has been an unbelievable increase in the number of cars and trucks on the roads. The level of traffic in the most rural parts of the country has also increased. I am not here to necessarily praise the Minister or to give out about him but I would like to make a few points on how we could make more progress. Speeding results in more deaths than any other factor. Senator Norris mentioned that speed limits throughout the country are inconsistent. Responsibility for speed limits should be removed from the local authorities and they should be implemented by the new road safety authority. Deaths as a result of speeding occur predominantly late at night or in the early hours of the morning. Young drivers, young men in particular, are seriously injured or killed.

When I was younger I probably was careless and fond of driving that little bit too fast. Indeed, I had a number of accidents. When many young people get their provisional licences at 17 and 18 years of age, it is all about driving fast and getting to their destination more quickly. When I think of how irresponsible my actions were at that time, I am thankful I am more mellow now and can see the benefits of driving slowly and in a calculated way. We must deal decisively with this scenario of young people driving fast in modified cars set up to do higher speeds than those for which they were built.

I recommend that we implement a policy where governors should be considered for drivers under a certain age unless they are prepared to embrace a particular course of training. In fact, I would incentivise people with governors, whether through direct State subsidisation of their insurance bills or through the insurance companies. The insurance bills of those with governors and driving under a 60 mph speed limit should be reduced by up to 50%.

Speeding obviously attracts young people, so there should be alternatives. We have none compared with other countries. There is Mondello Park and a number of go-kart tracks throughout the country. Along with the more reputable celebrity drivers, whether Formula 1 or rally drivers, we should implement State-sponsored programmes in schools and allow young people to experience speeding in an appropriate environment. The impression is given in Hollywood movies that it is cool to drive at 100 mph on particular roads. However, we must implement a policy which shows it is not cool to drive at such speeds but that it is cool to engage in motor sports with the professionals and in the proper safe environment and not on our roads in the middle of the night. We also know alcohol abuse is a problem which, mixed with speeding, is a lethal combination.

The use of governors should be considered. We should encourage alternatives and engage those involved in motor sports to try to encourage people to drive more slowly. If people must speed, they should do so in the right way and join the various clubs. Perhaps the Minister of State could take a couple of those points on board.