Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 104: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason a target for the reduction in serious injuries will not be set by the end of the current road safety strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9169/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 acknowledges significant difficulties in establishing a benchmark from which to set a target for the achievement of a reduction in the number of serious injuries. For that reason the central target established for the strategy was focused on the realisation of a reduction in the number of road deaths.

The strategy included a commitment to the pursuit of a programme aimed at establishing a more robust basis for determining injury data based on the information flow from the gardaí to the National Roads Authority allied to information from hospital admission data and insurance claims. This exercise is being pursued by a number of organisations, under the general direction of the National Roads Authority, which is tasked with the publication of national road collision data.

Given that we are now in the final year of the road safety strategy, a target for serious injuries will not be set within the lifetime of the existing strategy. Based on the outcome of the exercise referred to above, the question of establishing a target for serious injuries will be considered in the context of the development of the next strategy for the period beyond 2006.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 105: To ask the Minister for Transport the preparation he is making to formulate a new road safety strategy following the expiration of the current strategy later in 2006. [9170/06]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 162: To ask the Minister for Transport his proposals to deal with the prevention of tragedies in view of the ongoing carnage on roads here. [9162/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 162 together.

The Government Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 sets a primary target of a 25% reduction in road collision fatalities by the end of 2006 over the average annual number of fatalities in the 1998 to 2003 period. Achievement of the target would result in no more than 300 deaths per annum by the end of the period of the strategy. This is an ambitious target and one which will require the continued commitment to a strategic, integrated approach by all of the road safety agencies. However, the recent increase in road deaths is a cause of concern and places the challenge of meeting the target set for the end of 2006 into stark focus. As of 3 March, 74 people had lost their lives on our roads this year, compared to 72 at the same date last year.

Progress depends in the first instance on a continued emphasis on the approach that underpins the strategy. A major independent review of the previous strategy confirms that basing the primary target on the achievement of progress in the areas of speeding, drink driving and seat belt wearing remains the correct approach and these remain the key areas of the strategy.

Significant initiatives identified in the strategy that have been realised to date include the introduction of a new system of metric speed limits through the passage of the Road Traffic Act 2004 and the establishment of the new Garda traffic corps. The new speed limits structure featured a reduction in the speed limit in all rural, regional and local roads from 60 mph to 80 km/h, which equates to 50 mph. The establishment of the dedicated traffic corps in 2004 by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform under a distinct management structure under the command of an Assistant Commissioner addresses a particular commitment given by the Government. The corps, when it is fully staffed, will provide the basis for the achievement of the significant gains in road safety that emanate from consistent high levels of traffic law enforcement.

Other major proposals identified in the strategy such as the plans to establish a system of private sector operation of speed cameras under the auspices of the gardaí, the further extension of the operation of the penalty points and fixed charge systems, and the question of the introduction of a more general basis for the carrying out of preliminary roadside alcohol testing of drivers are being advanced.

I will bring forward legislation during the current Dáil session for the purpose of extending the basis for which a roadside breath test can be requested and also to provide a statutory basis for the engagement of private sector interests in the operation of a speed camera programme under the direct control and guidance of the gardaí. I have also recently announced the extension of the penalty point system from the existing five offences to 35 offences in early April. The emphasis of this extension is on offences that relate to driver behaviour which is the greatest single contributory factor in road collisions.

My priority at present is to implement the measures set out in the existing road safety strategy. As I indicated last week at the Committee Stage debate on the Driver Testing and Standards Authority Bill, the Road Safety Authority, as it will now be called, will play a major role in the development of future road safety strategies. The authority will be in a position to engage with all of the contributory bodies in order to develop and monitor the delivery of a comprehensive road safety programme for the period beyond 2006. It is envisaged that the programme will form the basis of the Government's road safety strategy.