Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Transport the input his Department has into the improvement of Garda road collision report data; if better information will be collected on foreign drivers, left-hand drive vehicles, novice drivers and so on; and the reason there is no continuous data available on the number of provisional drivers involved in collisions when such information is collected by Gardaí. [21988/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Statistics relating to road accidents are based on information provided by the Garda Siochana, and are currently published by the National Roads Authority (NRA) in their annual Road Accident Facts reports. The most recent report, now entitled "Road Collision Facts", relates to 2004 and is available in the Oireachtas Library and on the NRA website. Statistics relating to 2005 are not yet fully analysed or authenticated.

The 2004 report refers in particular to the various contributory factors to collisions where such data is 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.

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 Road Safety Authority (RSA) will have a significant input into advancing the road safety agenda in the future. The functions assigned to the Road Safety Authority include a mandate in relation to the collation of all relevant data and statistics.

The new Authority, as part of its remit, will examine what information is currently available and what information is required on road traffic accidents from all the relevant Departments and Agencies, including the Gardai. This may include the extension of the collection of data on matters raised by the Deputy.