Bid to cut crashes by State car drivers
Crashes involving members of the Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, the Civil Service and other State bodies are among the top five categories in the 2,000 insurance claims facing the State.
The cost to the taxpayer of settling the combined claims is estimated at €100 million.
The State Claims Agency (SCA) said the number of accidents involving State cars was a source of concern.
After conducting a risk review, it has recommended the level of driver training be improved.
Senior risk manager Pat Kirwan said this was part of the agency’s attempt to reduce the number of claims against the State. “Everybody is well aware it is a high-risk area to operate in. We want to focus on getting enhanced driver training,” he said.
Mr Kirwan said the training would be tailored for different State workers. Forestry workers who did off-road driving would get special courses, as would State employees who did a lot of night driving.
The training will be provided by private companies, or in-house by State bodies themselves.
Mr Kirwan said effective driver training would pay for itself. The agency is already in discussions with various State bodies about how the scheme will be implemented.
“If you’re preventing injuries, you’re saving the cost of compensation, medical treatment and absenteeism from the workplace,” he said.
The SCA estimated the 2,000 claims it is currently facing, including a high number of actions involving State cars, would cost €100m to settle.
However, it refused to name State bodies which are most urgently in need of advanced driver training.
There is the possibility of injured State employees taking legal action on the basis that they were not given appropriate training.
