The idea that road collisions are somehow inevitable is one of the biggest challenges facing this country in improving road safety, according to Minister for Transport Martin Cullen.
Mr Cullen was speaking at a road safety conference in Dublin today. The conference, organised by the Department of Transport and the Swedish embassy, discussed the new Road Safety Bill, new technologies on road safety and road safety trends in both countries.
"One of the biggest challenges we face in Ireland is the idea that road collisions are inevitable, that somehow road deaths and injuries are part of daily life, albeit a deeply regrettable one."
"However this need not be the case. Nine out of ten road deaths in Ireland are as a result of bad driver behaviour. Speeding, drink driving and non-wearing of seatbelts are the main killers," Mr Cullen said.
"To improve road safety we need to win over the hearts and minds of ordinary people and change their attitudes. I cannot over emphasise the importance of driver behaviour," he added.
Sweden's road safety record is among the best in the European Union. The conference heard an overview of the Swedish Government's "Vision Zero" road safety policy, in operation there since 1997.
The policy requires that fatalities and serious injurious are reduced to zero by 2020 and is based on four principles.
They are:
- That human life and health are paramount and take priority over mobility and other objectives of the road traffic system.
- Providers and regulators of the road traffic system share responsibility with users.
- Road traffic systems should take account of human fallibility and minimise both the opportunities for errors and the harm done when they occur.
- Providers and regulators must do their utmost to guarantee the safety of all citizens.
Mr Cullen said the Government had adopted a similar approach.
"In line with best international practice, our own strategy is nationally planned, nationally pursued and nationally enforced. Furthermore, it is measured against objectives. It is a strategy designed to get results, and results have been gained, to a point," he said.
He added that the penalty points system had made a "positive contribution" to road safety and would continue to do so.
The Minister went on to outline measures contained in the new Road Safety Bill, including the provision of more speed cameras through the privatisation of speed camera operations, increased fines and driving disqualification periods and the banning of driving while using a handheld mobile phone.
He said the driving licensing regime would be reformed after the current driving test backlog was reduced.