TRAFFIC congestion costs the Irish economy £1 billion a year, the organisers of yesterday's Public Transport Day claim. The promotion was part of Energy Awareness Week, launched by the Minister of State for Transport, Mr Emmet Stagg.
The theme of the day was "Public transport reduces congestion and pollution and is more energy efficient than the car". Mr Stagg called on motorists to abandon their cars for the day and use either the bus service or the DART.
The event was supported by the Departments of Transport and the Environment, CIE and its subsidiaries, and the Irish Energy Centre.
The organisers said the public responded positively to the initiative, although they said it was too early to say how many people abandoned their cars.
"The car, for so long a symbol of personal freedom and mobility, now frequently serves to restrict mobility in Ireland's major urban areas, and on roads", say the organisers. Mr Stagg said a bus carrying 72 passengers was more than 12 times as energy efficient as the single passenger car, and 150 per cent more efficient than a five passenger car.
Information stands will be placed in many major train stations around the country to promote public transport throughout the week.
In another event for Energy Awareness Week, Mr Stagg asked motorists to consider running their cars on gas. He was launching a week of gas promotions.
The Minister said motorists who ran their cars on gas would be making a major contribution to pollution reduction.
"Gas, at only £1.66 per gallon, offers significant savings to the motorist because it is over £1 per gallon cheaper than petrol, and 70p cheaper than diesel", said Mr Stagg.
As part of this week's promotion, motorists can have their cars converted for £300, compared with £650 normally. Ireland has one of the worst safety records for young drivers in Europe, according to a professional body representing 14 European car, truck and bus manufacturers.
Mr James Rosenstein of the Association of Car Manufacturers in Europe said young drivers in Ireland, as in the rest of Europe, tended to drive faster than any other segment of the population.
"One of the big problems here: seems to be that you don't have to attend driving school before you do your test," he said.
Mr Rosenstein was speaking at the launch of the European Young Driver of the Year competition in Dublin. Two young drivers were selected to represent Ireland in a European competition which aims to raise awareness about road safety among young drivers.