Road safety initiative launched

The Government today launched a road safety initiative - in the middle of one of the worst weeks for driving accident deaths this year.

Mr Molloy said this week had seen ‘‘some of the most horrific days on our roads in recent times’’.

He also reported that a new Road Traffic Bill, due to be debated in the Dail later this year, would incorporate a number of measures aimed at lowering accident death rates, including tougher penalties.

He said: ‘‘I do not believe that the current level of fines in many road traffic cases, such as speeding, amount to a sufficient penalty to dissuade a large percentage of the people who are being caught.

‘‘There has to be pain in the payment, and having a fine of just £50 is just not working.

The rash of road deaths prompted criticism of the government from parliamentary opposition parties for failing to implement a planned penalty points system for offending drivers.

And Eddie Shaw, of Ireland’s National Road Safety Council, called on Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to take direct political leadership of a campaign to reduce road deaths.

The initiative launched today was targeted at the approaching holiday weekend and urged people to select a person to act as a responsible driver while socialising.

The minister said: ‘‘While there has been a sea change in social attitudes to drinking and driving, it still remains a major road safety problem.’’

The ‘‘Designated Driver’’ scheme is being sponsored by the Irish drinks industry.