Garda∅ say they have had a "great response" to a new scheme encouraging motorists to report aggressive behaviour by other drivers.
Traffic Watch will initially operate as a pilot project in Wexford, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wicklow but will be extended to the rest of the State if successful.
Motorists who witness aggressive or careless driving by others, such as dangerous overtaking or tailgating, are being invited to phone a low-cost number, 1890 205 805, to report the incident.
Insp Michael Melia, the Garda traffic inspector for the southeast, said it is hoped the scheme will have a significant impact on the number of road deaths. Up to yesterday, 55 people had been killed on roads in the southeast this year, down one from the same date last year.
A call centre, staffed by garda∅, was launched last week in Kilkenny by Assistant Garda Commissioner Mr Dick Kelly. Reports made to the centre will be passed on to the relevant Garda station for investigation.
The initial response to the scheme had been extremely positive, said Insp Melia. In its first four days of operation, the Garda had received 30 calls requiring follow-up inquiries, as well as numerous other comments from motorists.
Drivers phoning in are first asked if they are using a mobile phone, said Insp Melia. "If they are, they will be instructed to pull over and not to endanger themselves. A garda will take their number and call them back immediately."
The caller will be asked for the registration number of the vehicle they are reporting, its location at the time of the incident, the direction in which it was travelling and a brief synopsis of what happened, he said. Calls will be treated in confidence but complainants will also be asked if they are prepared to make a written statement and attend a court hearing, said Insp Melia.
However, people were being encouraged to phone in regardless of their willingness to attend court or not.
In many cases, court hearings were not necessary as drivers were willing to admit the offence. And there were other options open to garda∅, such as issuing a caution or, in some cases, an on-the-spot fine. "It might be just a case of giving the motorist some advice and that may be the complainant's intention in phoning in."
The National Roads Authority this week began erecting signs displaying the number to be called. They are located under existing signs giving statistics for road fatalities in each county.
The scheme will be monitored on an ongoing basis and a report issued to the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne. A decision on whether to make it a national scheme is to be taken in about six months' time.
Insp Melia said he was not aware of any similar initiative in other countries. The idea had come from within the Garda.
Assistant Commissioner Kelly said the scheme was an opportunity for road users to take an active part in preventing careless driving on our roads.