Operation Lifesaver had 'no measurable effect'

Operation Lifesaver, the road safety strategy initiated in the Louth/Meath Garda division, had "no measurable effect on fatalities" during a key study period, it emerged yesterday.

Dr Ray Fuller and Ms Emer Farrell, of Trinity College Dublin, who carried out the study, found increased Garda enforcement led, however, to a substantial increase in prosecutions for not wearing seat-belts, and to a lesser extent for excessive speeding. It also led to a 18 per cent reduction in serious injuries.

Compared to similar periods in previous and subsequent years, and a controlled comparison with accidents in the Carlow-Kilkenny division, Dr Fuller said Operation Lifesaver had no measurable effect on fatalities.

The study concentrated on the accident and fatality figures in the Louth/Meath Garda Division between July and December 1997 - the period when the now nationwide strategy was introduced on a pilot basis. It also coincided with an increase of 10 staff in the Garda Traffic Corps and a 7 percent increase in hours devoted to enforcement in the Louth/Meath division.

In effect, Dr Fuller and Ms Farrell found there was a rate of reduction in the number of fatalities in the Louth/Meath division during the period, but this was not significantly different from a similar reduction in the "control zone" in Carlow-Kilkenny, where the additional enforcement measures did not then apply.

Dr Fuller said he would have preferred to examine a longer data period "and in reality we would like to have been there to gather data before and after the enforcement measures were introduced".

Publicising the findings yesterday, the National Roads Authority emphasised the "18 per cent reduction in serious injuries and a 9 per cent drop in minor accidents in the Louth/Meath division".

The authority also drew attention to the study's finding that the reduction in injuries represented a cost saving to the State of about €10 million.

Under this cost benefit analysis, the authority pointed out that Operation Lifesaver had a benefit to cost ratio of three to one.

Welcoming the report yesterday, the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, said he intended to fulfil the promise in the Government's road safety strategy to progressively extend the deployment of speed cameras and introduce a penalty points system for drivers.