Road deaths not just an inevitable part of daily life, says McDaid

Junior Transport Minister Jim McDaid said yesterday this approach was contained in a draft new Government strategy for the period 2004-2006, due to be published shortly.

The three-year strategy is seeking to reduce the number of people being killed in road accidents every year to 300 or less, Mr McDaid told the first road safety conference of the Institute of Road Safety Officers (IRSO), in Dublin yesterday.

Last year continued the downward trend, with 337 deaths - the lowest number of fatalities in 40 years.

Road deaths dropped by 108 during the 20 months following the introduction of penalty points compared with the previous 20 months, said Mr McDaid.

The minister said the theme of IRSO’s conference - road safety education - was one of the key areas on which they must concentrate their efforts.

They should constantly challenge the view that road collisions were inevitable and formed part of daily life. “This is not the case,” said Mr McDaid.

Road fatalities and injuries were avoidable and it was their responsibility to design and implement measures which would reduce the likelihood of collisions occurring.

“We need to encourage a shift in road user behaviour in the key areas of speeding, seatbelt wearing and driving while intoxicated in order to ensure further reductions in road deaths and injuries,” said Mr McDaid.

“Although we achieved a 20% reduction in road deaths during the safety strategy 1998-2002, it is true to say that significant levels of speeding, drink driving and non-compliance with seatbelt wearing legislation still exists.”

Mr McDaid told the road safety officers that, they had a crucial role to play in road safety promotion and education.

Their role and responsibilities in local authorities would be examined over the lifetime of the next road safety strategy.