Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on whether the current system of reporting road accidents does not provide people with the information necessary to ascertain the causes of accidents and that there is an urgent need to implement a new system of detailed categorisation to tackle the ever-growing tragedy of road accidents. [9211/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Transport the extent to which he or his Department or others under his aegis have studied the cause or causes of all fatal motor accidents in the past 12 months; the action he proposes to take to address issues that have become apparent; the timescale for such a plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9157/06]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Transport when a road accident investigation unit will be established; its powers and functions; the staffing arrangements for such a unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9106/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 80 and 114 together.

Information available regarding causes of fatal road collisions is prepared by the National Roads Authority, NRA, based on reports from the Garda Síochána and is published by the authority in its annual Road Accident Facts reports. The most recent report is in respect of 2004 and that report is available in the Oireachtas Library and on the NRA website. The report refers in particular to the various contributory factors to collisions where such data are available. In that context the report in respect of 2004 notes that driver error accounted for 88% of all contributory factors in respect of all collisions where such were identified. Pedestrian error was the next most listed factor at 8% with road factors accounting for 2% of all of those listed. The remaining factors listed related to vehicle and environmental factors. Statistics relating to 2005 are not yet fully analysed or authenticated.

The annual road collision reports provide a significant degree of knowledge that supports and informs the deployment of road safety measures, which are pursued within the planning framework of the multi-annual road safety strategies.

The primary immediate investigative role in relation to road accidents is vested in the Garda Síochána. Priority in such an investigation must be given to the determination of the causes of road accidents including, where appropriate, road construction or surface standards, and in particular whether a breach of the road traffic laws contributed to the occurrence.

The Garda Síochána is the body empowered to make such a determination and to launch criminal proceedings against any person who the gardaí consider should be accused of the commission of an offence. Garda reports on these investigations are forwarded to the National Roads Authority and subsequently to each local authority for the purpose of the establishment of accident trends and causes generally and to facilitate the carrying out of remedial works relating to road infrastructure where such action is deemed to be necessary.

As I outlined last week during the Committee Stage debate on the Driver Testing and Standards Authority Bill, the Road Safety Authority as it will now be called, will take on responsibility for road safety research and statistical collection. This will result in a more integrated approach to road safety policy generally, with one agency responsible for road safety research, statistical data, advertising, education and recommendations regarding road safety policy.