Govt to replace Safety Council with more powerful body

The Government is reportedly planning to abolish the National Safety Council and replace it with a statutory body with increased powers and resources.

Reports this morning said the establishment of the Road Safety Authority would be part of the Driver Training and Standards Bill currently passing through the Dail.

The reports said one of new body's main functions would be to tackle poor driver standards.

It will also reportedly oversee vehicle standards, driver education, testing and licensing.

The National Safety Council was set up 18 years ago to promote road safety, but the number of people being killed and injured in road accidents has failed to decline significantly in that period.