Road safety chiefs warn against cuts

MOTORING safety chiefs have cautioned against cuts in the country’s road programmes and warned that because of them there will need to be a redoubling of efforts to keep roads safe.

Responding to the budget, which saw e150m cut from local and regional road spending, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) defended price increases for driving tests.

RSA chief Noel Brett said the association’s board, including chairman Gay Byrne, was meeting to look at budget cuts and the knock-on effects.

“The better the quality of our roads and the better the quality of vehicles, the better the outcome in road safety terms. Clearly, we would be interested and careful to see what the implications are for the roads programme,” Mr Brett said.

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey has admitted there will be an “unavoidable reduction” in road improvements and works in 2009.

“The higher the standard of roads, the better all round. We have had massive improvements in terms of motorways and the new roads programme... the important thing now is that they are maintained,” said Mr Brett.

It was up to the National Roads Authority and local authorities to prioritise spending, the association said.

Meanwhile, the RSAdefended a doubling in the budget of the cost of the driving test. The move would help fund its own safety drives, including its review of commercial vehicle road worthiness, which was initiated after the Kentstown bus crash in Meath, which left five schoolgirls dead.

The cost of the driving test will go from e38 to e75. Tests for learner bus and truck drivers will go from e63 to e110.

The increases brought the cost of the test in line with European countries, including Britain, said Mr Brett. The fee has been unchanged since 1992.

Last year, the State subsidised the driving test service with e20 million,according to the RSA.