Road death figures set for lowest level in 40 years

The number of road deaths is set to reach its lowest level since the early 1960s, following a significant fall for the second year in succession.

The number killed on the Republic's roads to yesterday morning was 340, down 36 on the full year in 2002, which was itself down 35 on 2001.

The last years when the number of road deaths was as low were 1963, when 335 died, and 1964 when there were 341 fatalities.

However the number of deaths among motorcyclists have stayed static at about 50 per year. Injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents account for 12 to 15 per cent of all motor insurance claims. Compulsory training for motorcyclists is to be introduced early in the new year as part of a package of reforms aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries caused by motorbike accidents.

Motorcycle accidents are the only area where numbers of road deaths have not fallen during the past two years, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). These figures indicate that bikers do not appear to be getting the message, according to the safety council.

NSC spokesman Mr Brian Farrell told The Irish Times that the fatalities and serious injuries result from a combination of factors - motorcyclists are usually males with disposable income and a desire for fast powerful bikes, with no driving experience and no appreciation of their vulnerable position on the road.

The National Safety Council and the Insurance Federation were among bodies who made submissions on the issue to the Minister for Transport Mr Brennan earlier this year.

The Minister is in favour of a four point overhaul of the motorbike driving test which he plans to introduce early in the new year. The reforms include:

Compulsory training for motorcyclists as part of driving test;

The display of L plates by all drivers using provisional licences to alert gardaí to any breaches of the rule which forbids L-drivers from carrying pillion passengers;

The raising of the age at which a motorcyclist may apply for a first licence from 16 to 17 years;

Increased visibility requirements for riders and bikes.

A spokesman for Mr Brennan confirmed the package of reforms was "ready to go early in the new year".

He also said the Minister was determined to seeinsurance premiums linked to the penalty points scheme.

"The insurance industry said they wanted a bit of time to see the effect of the penalty points in the long term, before they offered reductions, but I think this month will be the 14th month where there has been a fairly consistent performance," the spokesman said.

While the figures show a dramatic drop since the introduction of penalty points on October 31st, last year, they climbed again in May, with monthly year on year totals for 2003 outstripping those for 2002, in May, June, July, October and November.

As of yesterday morning, 20 people had been killed in December, compared with 21 for the whole of December 2002.