Graduated licence system ‘cuts deaths’

DOCTORS want the Government to introduce a graduated licensing system for new drivers as this has been proven to reduce young driver crash fatalities.

The Irish Medical Organisation’s (IMO) public doctors’ leader, Dr Declan Bedford, said Ireland had a particular problem with young male drivers.

He said there was evidence from around the world that the number of deaths on Irish roads could be reduced with a graduated licensing system.

It would mean that learner drivers would have to have a qualified driver in the car at all times and would have to reduce their alcohol intake to the nearly zero amount of 20mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

There would also be an 11pm-5am curfew imposed on such drivers.

Dr Bedford, who was speaking in advance of the IMO’s annual conference next month, said the licensing system had resulted in a 54% reduction in night-time crashes in Michigan in the US.

Similar results had been achieved in Australia.

Dr Bedford said there was also evidence that there was a greater accident risk where the driver and passengers were of a similar age.

The IMO is also calling on all State agencies to cease providing car kits for mobile phones.

Dr Bedford said while it was illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone, there was evidence that a driver was not any safer using a hands-free device.

“If you use a hands-free mobile phone in a car you are four times more likely to be involved in a crash in the next 15 minutes,” Dr Bedford warned.