New strategy on road safety revealed

Legislation to allow for mandatory drink driving tests on drivers at crash sites is one of the key measures to be contained in the next road safety strategy.

According to a draft of the new policy, a copy of which has been seen by The Irish Times, greater compliance with speed limits, especially in cities, is another key objective in reducing road deaths to under 250 per annum by 2011.

Last year 368 people were killed in crashes as the Department of Transport missed a target to reduce deaths to fewer than 300 per annum.

The draft strategy is the third road safety plan and has been compiled by the Road Safety Authority (RSA). In it, the RSA warns that targets in previous plans were missed because crucial elements - such as random breathtesting - were delayed.

Achieving the goals in the new strategy is dependent on the Garda Traffic Corps being adequately resourced and other agencies such as the National Roads Authority, local authorities and Government departments meeting their commitments, the RSA says.

Its proposals call for the allowable blood alcohol limit to be reduced to 50mg/100ml and that all drivers involved in a crash should be tested at the scene, rather than in the hospital.

Road safety groups such as Public Against Road Carnage have long sought for the discretion allowed to gardaí in this area to be removed.

The draft report proposes that motorists involved in a crash will be tested both for alcohol and drugs. However, the RSA is concerned at the sharp fall in drink driving convictions.

Convictions for prosecutions based on blood or urine samples fell from 73 per cent in 2001 to just 24 per cent in 2005 while the number of prosecutions remained broadly consistent.

According to the draft report, this decline "undermines the effectiveness of the deterrent effect of drink driving legislation" and says it will research the reasons behind the fall and recommend changes to reverse it.

The stated aims of the strategy are to reduce speeding, driving under the influence of drink or drugs, non-wearing of seatbelts and protection of vulnerable road users.

A target of 11 million speed camera checks each year by the end of 2006 under the old plan was not met, largely because of delays introducing a private company to operate a network of up to 100 speed cameras. While the private company will operate the cameras and collect fines, senior gardaí will decide where the cameras will be sited.

Tender documentation was sent to six previously-selected private camera operators last month and the deadline for completed tenders is today.

Among the speeding targets contained in the report, is an increase in compliance with the urban 50km/h speed limit from 39 per cent to 55 per cent over the next four years.

The draft strategy also proposes specific education programmes for young male drivers and notes that males between 17 and 24 years of age are almost six times more likely to "be responsible for fatal or serious collisions where excessive speed is cited as a contributory factor".

In a bid to reduce driver frustration with inconsistent speed limits the draft plan is also proposing an annual report of speed limits.

Many changes proposed by the RSA will require new road traffic legislation, including the frequently mentioned introduction of a graduated driving licence.

To cater for the rising number of non-national motorists, the report proposes that education policies for Ireland's "diverse road user population" be developed in conjunction with local groups and embassies.

The strategy is based on consultations with road safety agencies, Government departments and contacts with international experts. Just under 400 submissions were received from the public, and 47 from companies.

The plan also includes a recommendation - as reported in yesterday's Irish Times - that motorists disqualified from driving in the North and Britain will also be banned in the Republic.

Copies of the draft report have been circulated to key road safety agencies and some small amendments are expected before the final version is handed to the Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey.

A spokesman for the RSA said last night said the strategy was a working document and it would be inappropriate to comment any further until it has been approved by the Minister.