Higgins calls for improvement in Irish Road Safety Performance

FG MEP Senator Jim Higgins urged the Irish Authorities to do more to help reduce the number of deaths and injuries on Irish roads. Speaking following the first Road Safety Performance Index (PIN) Conference in Brussels by the European Transport Safety Council Senator Higgins said:

"This report concentrates on three key areas of driver behaviour, speed, alcohol and seatbelt use and shows that Ireland is lagging behind other Europeans States in combating these problems. The French authorities have reduced road deaths by 35% in just four years, one of four States to break the 25% reduction barrier."

"The French performance stems mainly from concentrating on the fight against excess and inappropriate speed. Ireland's performance is very poor a reduction of less than 5%, leaving it 21st of 27 European States. While a reduction is welcome, it is clear that a faster and greater reduction is possible. The report clearly shows the importance of greater enforcement, penalties are of no use if the law is not enforced fully."

Senator Higgins highlighted the need to take on board examples of international best practice and to re-evaluate Ireland's approach to driver behaviour. "This review would allow examples of best practice from the likes of France, Belgium and the Czech Republic, to be incorporated into a more successful road safety policy. For example, in yesterday´s press, we saw the huge numbers of provisional drivers on Irish roads. In Belgium your provisional licence lapses after either 18 months or 3 years depending on your method of learning, failure to take the test means you must re-take the theory exam. There are many examples of good practice out there it is up to the authorities to put them in place."

Concluding Senator Higgins called on the Irish Authorities to provide better data on the amount of deaths and injuries from drivers from drink driving. "We do not know the full extent of the dangers of drink driving unless we have the statistics to show us and only then we can take the necessary actions. It may also be useful to increase the amount of new cars that have seat belt reminders, and to consider retrofitting of these reminders in older cars. Seatbelt use is as an important factor as alcohol or speeding and should not be overlooked."