Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 13: To ask the Minister for Transport the proposals his Department has to deal with regulating boy racers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24404/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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This cohort of drivers, generally men aged between 17 and 25 years, are the target of much road safety effort in Ireland and other countries. That effort is directed through road safety advertisement, education and enforcement measures. The Road Safety Authority has developed advertising campaigns targeted at encouraging young people to consider their attitudes, behaviour and the consequences of their actions as road users, especially as drivers. Those campaigns are supported by high visibility enforcement by the Garda Síochána, particularly in relation to speeding, seat belt wearing and intoxicated driving.

The introduction of Mandatory Alcohol Testing (MAT) and the proposed privatised operation of speed cameras, will have a significant impact on such driving behaviour. Measures have also been introduced by the RSA to reduce driving test waiting times, a critical contribution to road safety and improved driver behaviour, with the recent announcement by the RSA that the average waiting time for a driving test is now down to 23 weeks. This represents a 30% drop in waiting times as the average waiting time stood at 33 weeks a year ago. The RSA have also said that they will reduce the average waiting time down to 10 weeks by March next year.