Bernard Allen
Question:95 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Transport his plans to complete the implementation of the existing road safety strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16690/03]
Written Answers. - Road Safety.
Paul Kehoe
Question:131 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport his plans to implement a new road safety strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16689/03]
Jack Wall
Question:159 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Transport when he expects to receive the report of the high level group on a new road safety strategy for 2003 to 2005; when it is intended to publish the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16890/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 95, 131 and 159 together.
The programme for Government states that a three year road safety strategy will be developed and will target speeding, drink driving, seat-belt wearing and pedestrian safety in order to reduce deaths and injuries.
The high level group on road safety has been tasked with the preparation of this new strategy.
The preparation of the new strategy will take account of the achievements in meeting the targets set out in the Road to Safety Strategy 1998-2002, a comprehensive review of that strategy, and the evolving developments in relation to the EU third road safety action plan.
Preparation of the new strategy is well advanced and I expect to bring specific proposals for the strategy to Government later this year.
Pending the introduction of a new strategy, my Department and all the agencies concerned with the implementation of road safety measures are ensuring that the successful measures brought forward under the Road to Safety continue to be implemented. So far this year, we have witnessed a further reduction in road crash fatalities. Provisional figures to 11 June 2003 show 147 road deaths compared to 164 on the same date last year.