Drink drive limit among policy delays

THE INTRODUCTION of a lower 50mg drink drive limit and the establishment of a risk register for haulage companies that break road safety laws are among measures the Government failed to introduce on time.

Both are contained in the Government's Road Safety Strategy 2007-2012 and were to be in place by the end of June. They now join the speed camera contract in a lengthening list of delayed road safety policies.

Most of the key measures required to help enforcement agencies reduce the number of deaths on the roads to under 252 by 2012 are delayed.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) in 2008 recommended reducing the current 80mg drink drive limit to 50mg and the introduction of a 20mg limit for learner drivers. According to the Department of Transport, a new road traffic bill containing this and other changes will be introduced to the Oireachtas before the Dáil recess.

However, the legislation is unlikely to be passed before the summer break and even when it is passed into law, more time will be required to replace or recalibrate the equipment used to measure breath samples.

Explaining the delay, a department spokesman said: "During the drafting stage, some issues were brought to our attention and we decided to use the opportunity to include them in the new bill. Road safety legislation is by its nature complex and it is important to get it right."

The bill is expected to contain provisions for the mandatory testing of drivers at a crash site - which had an initial target date of June 2008.

Speed cameras were due a year ago, but despite funding being allocated and a preferred bidder identified, no progress appears to have been made since the end of last year.

A system of administrative disqualification for drink drivers, due for introduction since June 2008, is also outstanding.

Among the initiatives due by the end of June were a risk register of hauliers who breach road safety laws and the appointment of a full-time road safety officer in each local authority.

Other delayed measures include a review of responses by emergency staff to road collisions. Preventing written-off cars being repaired and re-registered was another policy target for the end of June.

The RSA said yesterday that a full review of written-off vehicles has been completed and data on write-offs is now routinely sent by insurance companies to the National Vehicle Driver File.

Each of the 126 measures in the strategy has an implementation date and names the agency responsible for its introduction.