Fewer people die on roads in pre-Christmas period

Provisional figures for deaths on the Republic's roads this year reveal a sharp reduction in the number of people killed in the traditional pre-Christmas "danger period" of November and December.

The figures also show that overall the numbers killed in road traffic accidents have fallen significantly for the third year in a row, from a high of 472 in 1997, to 458 in 1998 and to 410 to midnight on Monday.

Road deaths for the year are expected to be down by about 9 per cent. However, the deaths and serious injuries will cost the State around £800 million this year.

Fewer people were killed each month this year than last, with the exceptions of February, March and July. In November 16 people were killed, compared to 41 in November 1998. Last year 45 people were killed during December, while the month's total on Monday night stood at 32.

While the figures reveal a declining trend in road deaths since 1977 - the year the Government launched its Strategy for Road Safety, they also indicate a greater acceptance of the annual Garda crackdown on drink-driving and speeding.

The largest number of people killed were drivers, in single vehicle accidents, travelling in the dark at weekends.

The figures reflect a continuing determination by the National Safety Council, the Garda and the Department of the Environment to achieve the Government's target of 20 per cent fewer road deaths by 2002 than in 1997.

However, key aspects of the strategy, such as the penalty points system for drivers and roadside cameras remain to be introduced, while the Government has yet to publish its promised Road Traffic Bill.

The penalty points system is expected to operate along the British lines where a motorist is banned from driving for at least three months if he or she accumulates 12 points or more during a three-month period.

There have been a number of delays with the system, the latest being a dependence on the Pulse information technology system over which the gardai had a recent industrial dispute.

There are also difficulties in securing trained personnel to operate the spy camera system, although a Garda Press Office spokesman said yesterday that "it might be early in the new year, it is certainly only a matter of time before these are brought into operation".

A number of new initiatives were introduced during the year to combat the carnage. One of these was the "Fly the Flag" campaign, a once-off campaign to reduce the number of accidents over the October bank holiday.

While 40 road deaths in October were only two less than in 1998, suggesting that "Fly the Flag" was not very successful, the November figures saw the most dramatic reduction in road deaths of the year.

The introduction of a new device to measure levels of alcohol in a person's breath was introduced on a pilot basis during the year and was extended as part of the annual Christmas anti-drink driving campaign. The device which produces evidence which may be used in a prosecution - thus saving time and the need for blood or urine samples - has been challenged in the courts but gardai are convinced it will be found to be satisfactory.

In September a team of Dublin Corporation traffic engineers added more "green-time" to more than a third of the capital's 230 pedestrian crossings, to help the elderly who often have difficulty in crossing the streets in the time given.

Road safety is also set to be improved with the introduction of the National Car Test (NCT) for all cars over eight years old. From January 4th motorists will have to subject their vehicles to regular compulsory mechanical tests for the first time. The test will apply to cars regardless of the date of the expiry of the tax disc.

No prosecutions will be undertaken until April and initially at least only serious faults, such as with brakes, lights and steering, will be "failing faults". Other faults will be deemed "advisory faults" and it will be up to the motorist to decide when to have them fixed. The test will cost £35 and 43 special centres have been set up to carry them out.

Cars that pass the test will get a special disc to display on the windscreen. Anyone driving a car that does not display a disc will face fines of up to £350.