Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I was arguing that three elements should be introduced. The first is a concentration on slow drivers, as they are undoubtedly a significant factor. I have travelled numerous times on national primary routes where I have been travelling at 30 mph or 40 mph, and somebody in front, who probably has a full licence, is hugging the white line and not taking any account of a huge build-up of traffic behind them. People may then attempt to pass out three or four cars at one time in a highly dangerous move.

Other countries have dealt effectively with this by having a number of lanes for overtaking on periodic sections of the road. There are signs which constantly remind drivers that it is courteous to allow cars behind to pass, and when drivers come to areas where they can overtake, it is clearly indicated that a person should drive on the left unless overtaking. We have a slow lane here and a driver may feel that he or she is not a slow driver, so he or she remains in the fast lane. We should consider that matter, as people driving between two points are looking to do it within a certain amount of time. If drivers are held up it can give rise to much of the frustration and difficulties which occur on the road.

Taking into account accident statistics and insurance premia for younger drivers, just because somebody passes their driving test, does not necessarily equate to that person being a proficient driver with experience to drive in a similar way to somebody who has 30 or 40 years of driving experience. In other jurisdictions I have seen instances where if penalty points are incurred within a certain period — two or three years, for example — of passing the driving test, the penalty points are doubled. There is therefore a clear imposition on the younger driver to comply. When a person passes a driving test, instead of getting an open driving licence he or she should graduate from being a provisional driver to an improver for perhaps three years. If such people accumulate a certain number of points in that period they may have to repeat the test. There should be some incentive for the younger driver to accumulate experience in a probationary environment.

Third, and most important, is enforcement. Enforcement should take place across the board but particularly in high risk areas and at times when accidents are most likely to happen. It defies logic that we cannot concentrate enforcement activities between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. and at weekends. We should target people who feel they can drive under the influence of alcohol with impunity, so they know there is a high risk of detection. If we concentrate on weekends and other high risk times, rather than just in the run-up to Christmas, we would engender the necessary culture of compliance. These are practical measures to change our culture and I know the Minister hopes the new authority will take innovative steps in that regard.

We must also bear in mind something which is lost sight of but which is important for business. Traffic must flow freely, which should be possible at the speed limit. In recent weeks I have driven in areas where 100 km/h was the limit but the average speed, which I measured, was between 80km/h and 90 km/h. In this jurisdiction motorists can only drive at 60 km/h and it is an area on which we must focus because it creates a built-in incentive for people to break the speed limit when they get the opportunity, in order to increase their average driving speed.

I welcome the Bill. It contains many good initiatives and I have no doubt that in time we will see the fruits of it. I compliment the Minister of State and his staff in that regard.