Seanad debates

Wednesday, 14 November 2007

Road Safety: Statements (Resumed)

 

1:00 pm

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an díospóireacht ar an cheist thábhachtach seo. Níl morán daoine sa tír nach bhfuil aithne acu ar dhuine a maraíodh ar na bealaí móra nó a bhí i dtimpiste. Tá sé iontach tábhachtach go bhfuilimid ag déanamh ár sheacht ndícheall aghaidh a thabhairt ar an fhadhb sin. Cuirim fáilte roimh an mhéid atá déanta ag an Road Safety Authority go dtí seo. Silim, áfach, go gcaithfimid níos mó a dhéanamh. Mar a dúirt Seanadóir eile, duine amháin a maraíodh ar na bealaí móra, sin duine de bharraíocht.

I reiterate the call made by my Sinn Féin colleague, Cathal Boylan MLA, who has demanded an all-Ireland conference on road safety. This week in the Assembly, Sinn Féin submitted a motion on road safety calling for an all-Ireland summit to tackle the crisis on our roads and for the integration of the Road Safety Council and the Road Safety Authority to deal with issues of road safety on an all-Ireland basis. The Border, which was imposed against the will of the majority of people on this island, continues to cost lives and impinges on the well-being of the people. The very existence of two road safety authorities on a small island does not make sense. While hundreds of people are killed annually on our roads, there is a particular concentration of road accidents in the Border areas. The death rate from road accidents is one third higher in the Border region than anywhere else in the island. Partition is a major impediment to improving Irish road safety because of the two entirely separate systems. There are two different systems of speed limits, different road signs and different standards for drivers.

It is in the interests of everybody on the island that we work together on an all-Ireland approach to save lives. The Good Friday Agreement strand two provisions have defined transport as a significant area of co-operation and this must include road safety. The Sinn Féin all-Ireland road safety policy document spells out clear proposals, including all-Ireland ministerial and departmental co-operation in the area of transport, including road safety and an all-Ireland road safety strategy to harmonise speed limits into kilometres per hour, as is required under EU law, the harmonisation of road signs and other road safety measures. It also proposes a single road safety authority for the entire island, an all-Ireland licensing system, including a common driving test and a common penalty points system. Although I acknowledge the growing North-South co-operation, more must be done. Lives are at stake and all-Ireland co-operation would improve road safety and reduce fatalities.

I welcome most of the recommendations in the recent publication by the Road Safety Authority and while I hope, like all other Members, they will lead to a reduction in fatalities and injuries on our road, I question the Government's reluctance to deal with the issue of the blood-alcohol limit. A positive step could be taken that would have an immediate effect if it was followed up by enforcement. The template is in place in other European countries where a zero blood alcohol limit applies and I am disappointed action will not be taken on this issue until the second quarter of 2009.

I concur with Senator Ormonde's sentiments on public awareness campaigns. At a recent public information meeting in Donegal attended by Mr. Gay Byrne the message was never drink and drive and one drink is too many but the message sent by the Government by not reducing the blood alcohol limit to zero is one can drink and drive up to a certain level. That confusion needs to be addressed for once and for all and a blood alcohol limit of zero needs to be introduced. This needs to be followed up by making proper provision for rural transport for those who need it.

I am also disappointed that the issue of drug driving has not been tackled. As Ireland has been a pioneer in other areas such as smoking legislation, it should also be a pioneer on drug driving. When we debate the issue of drugs in society, we know people are taking illegal substances on a daily basis. Do we believe they walk home from the pubs, clubs and parties they attend where they take these substances or do we believe they get behind the wheel of a car under the influence of drugs? This is allowed to continue by not introducing the necessary legislation and measures together with appropriate enforcement to provide drug testing on the side of the road.

A number of years ago the Government introduced legislation that permitted local authorities to reduce speed limits on roads and, in particular, outside primary and secondary schools. If the speed limit was 100 km/h, it could be reduced to 50 km/h. Although the legislation is in place, local authorities to not have the funding to implement the changes. It would cost between €2 million and €3 million to apply the reduction in County Donegal but that money has not been forthcoming from the Government. While aspirations and strategies are important, they need to be supported by Exchequer resources, particularly for local authorities when they are asked to implement such measures.

Funding for non-national roads is also a concern. We all know the blackspots in our communities where accidents and fatalities occur on an ongoing basis. While a scheme is in place to address accident blackspots, it is not sufficient. The funding for the scheme is released in dribs and drabs and local authorities can only take action on a number of them annually. If the Government is serious about reducing road accidents and fatalities, it needs to provide funding to local authorities and their engineers who know where the blackspots are located.

There is a reason one third more accidents occur in the Border region. The Minister of State, who is from Donegal, will be aware of the difficulties relating to road safety and action is needed. Co-operation must be enhanced on a North-South basis and the necessary funding must be provided to address these issues. Senator Keaveney and others referred to young people doing donuts on the road and the need for the Garda to tackle them so that they do not terrorise communities. Young people are not solely responsible for our poor road safety record or bad driving.

I refer to a project in Gweedore, west Donegal. As a result of a young person losing his life on the road, his friends came together and decided to take action. They set up a stock car rally club and developed a rally track. They raised tens of thousands of euro and developed the track. It is fully insured and fully compliant with safety regulations and it has the support of the local Garda. More important, if the young people who participate in the stock car racing identify another member abusing the rules of the road, they are immediately excluded from the club. The Minister of State was present at a meeting with the local superintendent who applauded the young people. The Government should support initiatives such as this promoted by young people.

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