Written answers

Wednesday, 26 January 2005

9:00 pm

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 567: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on whether the penalty points system has failed to save lives on roads and whether this new law is now being used to penalise law-abiding taxpayers for minor driving offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34300/04]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The effectiveness of the penalty points system can be judged primarily on the basis of the contribution it has made to road safety since its introduction. Since the introduction of the system in October 2002, the number of deaths as a result of road collisions fell by 116 by comparison to the figure pertaining to the previous two years.

Penalty points now operate in respect of speeding, seat-belt wearing, driving without insurance and careless driving. Since the introduction of the system over 198,500 drivers have incurred penalty points. Overall, the introduction of penalty points has had a very positive effect on road safety and I am confident that the full roll-out of the system will further enhance that effect.

Unfortunately, the number of road deaths in 2004 increased over the previous year, in which we experienced the lowest number of road deaths in 40 years. The increase experienced in 2004 is a cause for concern. To achieve a reduction in road deaths and injuries, an integrated approach involving a range of different measures is required and no one measure alone can achieve the desired result. The new Road Safety Strategy, 2004-2006, outlines a range of issues that it is intended will be pursued over the period in question. Overall, measures will focus on the areas of education, enforcement, engineering and legislation and will target the key areas of speeding, driving while intoxicated and seat-belt wearing. The intended effect of the penalty points system is to instill greater caution and responsibility in motorists in relation to their driving and to change the driving behaviour of those who commit road traffic offences repeatedly.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 568: To ask the Minister for Transport the amount of public money which was spent on road safety campaigns in 2004; and the reason for the failure of these costly efforts in view of the fact that the road death toll in 2004 shows an increase of 46 over the previous year. [34301/04]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The National Safety Council is mandated with responsibility for road safety advertising and education, including the development of a road safety campaign. The council receives an annual allocation from the Department of Transport, which in 2004 amounted to €2.886 million. In addition, just over €1 million was provided to the agency specifically for the purpose of developing a public information campaign for the introduction of a revised speed limit structure, expressed in metric values, on 20 January this year. In addition to Exchequer funding, the National Safety Council receives funding from the Irish Insurance Federation, and funding is also received from sponsorship sources.

My Department has provided the financial support necessary for the production and presentation of some of the most effective public awareness campaigns ever mounted in relation to road safety, many of which have received international recognition for their quality and focus.

Unfortunately, there was a higher number of road deaths in 2004 than in the previous year, in which we experienced the lowest number of road deaths in 40 years. The increase experienced in 2004 is a cause for concern. To achieve a reduction in road deaths and injuries, an integrated approach involving a range of different measures is required and no one measure alone can achieve the desired result. The new Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 outlines a range of issues that it is intended will be pursued over the period in question. In overall terms, measures will focus on the areas of education, enforcement, engineering and legislation and will target the key areas of speeding, driving while intoxicated and seat-belt wearing.

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