Ireland's Road Deaths coming down...
There were 336 road deaths in Ireland in 2007, a fall of 8% on the figures for 2006. While this obviously represents progress there are still significant problems for Ireland and we are still some way behind the best-practice countries internationally. The best performing countries internationally are Sweden, the UK and the Netherlands, and Irish casualty figures need to fall by a further 50% to match their performance.
Ireland’s road safety strategy is not rocket science. It is a series of measures each of which have been tried and tested elsewhere. Countries like Europe’s best – the Swedes and the British – and Australia have been leading the way in road safety for many years. Initiatives like penalty points, dedicated traffic enforcement, mandatory alcohol testing and automated speed cameras are supported here in Ireland because we know that they have saved many lives elsewhere.
The Strategy is an excellent document. Its 126 action points contain a large range of measures that we have been pressing for for a long time. Measures like a graduated licensing system, reform of driver training and driver testing and road safety education in schools are very important and have been a focus of AA representation. Our only concern is that the government cannot allow these critical measures to be stalled by foot-dragging in the implementation, a problem which dogged the previous strategies.
Once again Ireland’s progress has been slowed by delays in the State’s processes. At the moment the planned network of speed cameras has been bogged down in bureaucracy and the latest that we hear is that the system will not be in place this year – which means that the life-saving initiative is two years late and counting. Having been the major influence behind the establishment of the Garda Traffic Corps the AA continues to press for increased levels of enforcement, and has told the government that the delay to the speed camera project is unacceptable.
Speed cameras are a serious concern. We need to support genuine road safety measures but we also need to ensure that motorists are not unfairly victimised by inappropriate revenue-driven enforcement. Having dealt closely with the Garda as the tender documents for the speed camera network were drawn up we are satisfied that the system will be based on genuine road safety criteria, and it will be important to be as up-front and fair with motorists as possible to make sure that everyone can support the scheme.
The AA is also working with the policy advisory panel of the Road Safety Authority to make recommendations to government as to how the blood alcohol limit should be reduced and to what level. The government has already decided that the alcohol limit is to be reduced, and the AA is helping to analyse how this should be done and what the new lower level should be. There are practical consequences of this that need to be worked out. For example the calibration of Garda equipment is a big logistical task which has to be done thoroughly if the new limits are not to be challenged in the courts. The change is not likely to be made before the end of this year.
