Carnage on roads `costs over £800m each year'

The cost of deaths or serious injuries on the Republic's roads amounts to more than £800 million a year, the Bacon Report on Road Safety reveals.

The report, to be published today, was commissioned by the National Safety Council.

The chairman of the council, Mr Cartan Finegan, said the report showed that while investment in road safety programmes was commonly perceived as a financial cost to society, it could, "in fact, yield a spectacular financial payback - even in the short term". Compiled by economic consultant, Dr Peter Bacon, the report is expected to demonstrate that money spent on reducing the number of deaths and injuries on our roads can lead to actual cash savings to the economy.

It is expected to recommend a road safety programme aimed at reducing the number of accidents by 20 per cent. The resulting one-fifth of £800 million saved would more than cover the cost of the road safety campaign, the report is expected to point out.

Dr Bacon has become best known in recent years for his two reports on measures to dampen inflation in the housing market. His suggestion to cut tax relief for interest payments on investment properties has been credited with removing many speculators from the property market.

His new report, which will be launched at lunchtime in Dublin, has already been welcomed by the National Safety Council.