A public health doctor yesterday called for a graduated licensing system for new drivers in an attempt to reduce fatalities on the roads.
Dr Declan Bedford said under such a system there would be a curfew on new drivers between 11pm and 5am, they would have to have somebody with them in the vehicle at all times, there would be a restriction on the number of passengers they could carry of their own age group, and they would have to obey a lower alcohol limit. "In other places where they have introduced this, for example in Michigan, there was a 54 per cent reduction in night-time crashes," he said.
Furthermore, he called on all State agencies to cease providing car kits for mobile phones to employees. He said the evidence was that drivers were no safer using a hands-free mobile phone.
Dr Bedford was speaking at a press conference organised by the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) where the agenda for its annual conference next month was set out.
Cork GP Dr Ronan Boland said a draft contract for GPs was promised a year ago but it still had not surfaced. Talks with the Health Service Executive on a new contract were in limbo as a result of a suggestion that it would be in breach of competition law for the executive to reach a deal with the IMO on behalf of GPs.
The advice of the Attorney General has been sought.