Increase in number of road fatalities

Provisional Garda figures on fatal road accidents for the year to the end of July show that 236 people were killed on the Republic's roads compared with 212 for the corresponding period in 1999.

The rise in fatalities was predicted by observers, who criticised the Government for its failure to implement key aspects of the road safety strategy, launched by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, in 1998. The strategy aimed to reduce deaths by at least 20 per cent by 2002 compared to the 1997 figures.

Launching the second progress report on the implementation of the road safety strategy on Tuesday, the Minister of State for the Environment, Mr Bobby Molloy, said approval had been given for the drafting of a Bill to introduce the penalty points system and random breath-testing. This is unlikely to become law this year.

The key aspects of the strategy which have not yet been put in place include random testing for drink-driving, reducing waiting times for driving tests, a computerised system to back up the speed cameras which have been introduced on some routes, and a penalty points system. In August 1999 the National Safety Council commissioned a report from economist Dr Peter Bacon to show that the required investment would have a real economic benefit to the State. However, a year later and midway through the five-year strategy, the Government has still not implemented the key measures.

The former chairman of the National Safety Authority which commissioned the report was replaced when the authority was re-appointed earlier this year.

On Tuesday, Mr Molloy welcomed the increased enforcement, citing the 180,000 on-the-spot fines for speeding motorists issued in 1999 and the deployment of speed cameras. However, the second report of the strategy notes continuing "widespread non-observance of speed limits by all classes of motorists".

The report noted that national surveys of road speeds and seatbelt wearing had revealed "a disappointing pattern of driver behaviour in relation to these key areas, which calls seriously into question the attainment of some of the strategy's supporting targets."

Stricter controls on speeding are required near schools, according to the Fine Gael spokesman on enterprise, trade and employment, Mr Denis Naughten.

He also said the Government was correct to concentrate its campaign on drink-driving, but urged it to make a concerted effort to tackle speeding on the roads following a recent British report's findings that speed combined with inexperience was the main cause of death on the roads.