Plan to cut road deaths by quarter revealed

The Government is to target a 25% reduction in the number of people killed on Ireland’s roads by 2006, it was revealed today.

Transport Minister Seamus Brennan said there should be no more than 300 deaths annually by the time a new road safety strategy ends.

The programme, which has been approved by Government and will be published shortly, will target speeding, drink-driving, seat-belt wearing and pedestrian safety in order to reduce deaths and injuries.

The lowest number of fatalities since 1963 was recorded last year with 337 deaths, but the number killed so far this year has increased compared to the same period last year.

Mr Brennan said more than 153,000 penalty point notices had been issued so far and a full system will be rolled out when the necessary IT systems are in place.

He also pointed to the creation of a network of privately-operated speed cameras to free up Garda resources, amid a raft of initiatives in the new strategy, which include :

:: Random preliminary breath testing for drink driving will be introduced to strengthen and complement the powers which the gardaí already have.

:: A new speed limit structure to be expressed in metric values will be introduced.

:: The consideration of the establishment of a dedicated Traffic Corps in consultation with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Mr Brennan also moved to calm concerns created by the plan to give control of speed cameras to private sector interests.

“The introduction of a network of speed cameras has given rise to some controversy,” he said.

“A well-managed speed enforcement programme can lead to a decrease in collisions and fatalities.

“There is however a danger that compliance by motorists would be put at risk if there is a perception that it is a revenue-generating exercise rather than a measure aimed at reducing road casualties.”

Mr Brennan said the public needed to understand the reasons behind enforcement programmes.

“It is important that our efforts in Ireland to introduce a speed camera programme build on the success of the National Safety Council in gaining public support for road safety measures, is targeted in areas where speeding is a factor in road collisions, and that the public accept that enforcement is well managed and proportionate,” he said.

“In particular, it is important to ensure that the involvement of the private sector frees up Garda resources and is not seen as a revenue generating exercise.

“Raising public awareness of the causes of collisions and the fact that most are preventable is essential to build support for road safety measures, especially enforcement, and as a prerequisite for changing road user behaviour.”