Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 505: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the policy measures he will take to tackle the problem of boy racers in rural areas here; if he has taken into account the high level of fatal road accidents in rural areas and the impact of speeding in these accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29368/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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One of the strategic goals set out in the Garda Síochána Corporate Strategy 2007-2009 is to reduce significantly the incidence of fatal and serious road traffic injuries and improve road safety. I am informed by the Garda authorities that collision data identifies young male drivers as vulnerable persons in terms of road safety. In order to address this, intelligence led initiatives and specific operations are taken to change young driver behaviour and improve the compliance culture among such drivers. In addition to intelligence-led operations, Traffic Corps personnel, assisted by both regular uniform and plain-clothes personnel, regularly target areas where young male drivers congregate. Regular mobile patrols and checkpoints are also conducted in these areas. Websites are monitored to assist in establishing where events are taking place and implementing the necessary response.

These initiatives have resulted in detections being made for a wide range of road traffic offences, including offences relating to dangerous driving, careless driving, no silencer fitted, L-plates not displayed, identification plates not conforming with legislation, road tax offences, insurance and driving licence offences, speeding offences, dangerously defective vehicles and modified vehicles. Offences detected are dealt with by way of prosecution, fixed charge notice or, where appropriate, through the Juvenile Diversion Programme.

An Garda Síochána has reviewed the suitability of various types of equipment, in line with EU specifications, to measure levels of noise and whether windows are tinted to such a degree as to obscure vision, so as to provide technical evidence necessary to facilitate the successful prosecution of drivers for such offences under the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations. Requests for Tender have been prepared for the purchase of the appropriate equipment, and they are expected to be published shortly.

Garda road safety awareness programmes are conducted in schools, third level colleges, factories, workplaces and other facilities, with the aim of educating road users in the obligations on all road users under the Road Traffic Acts and to promote road safety among the target group. An Garda Síochána is working with other agencies, in particular the Road Safety Authority, in this regard.

The emphasis of Garda speed enforcement is on the use of mobile speed cameras, and their capacity in this area has been substantially enhanced recently. In September, 2008 the Garda Commissioner and I launched eight new Garda mobile speed detection vehicles. These state of the art vehicles represent a substantial upgrading of the resources available to An Garda Síochána to address the problem of speeding on our roads, particularly in collision prone zones.