I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 277 together.
Statistics relating to road accidents, based on information provided by the Garda Síochána, are published by the National Roads Authority, NRA, in its annual Road Accident Facts reports. The most recent report, now entitled Road Collision Facts, relates to 2004 and is available on the NRA website. Reports relating to previous years are available in the Oireachtas Library. The report refers in particular to the various contributory factors to collisions where such data is available.
In that context the report in respect of 2004 notes that driver error accounted for 88% of all contributory factors in respect of all collisions where such were identified. Pedestrian error was the next most listed factor at 8%, with road factors accounting for 2% of all of those listed. The remaining factors listed related to vehicle and environmental factors.
The report does not address a ranking order for contributory factors to collisions on a specific or general basis. However, the report notes that during the hours of the day most strongly associated with drinking and driving, some 26% of fatalities were recorded.
The annual road collision reports provide a significant degree of knowledge that supports and informs the deployment of road safety measures, which are pursued within the planning framework of the multi-annual road safety strategies.