The number of persons killed in motoring accidents this year reached 300 at the weekend. Those seriously injured and psychologically scarred as a consequence of the on-going carnage on our roads, is much greater. These are frightening figures. They represent a terrible catalogue of suffering for thousands of families. Perhaps their worst aspect is that many of the deaths could have been prevented.
Speeding, the abuse of drink and drugs, and a consistent failure by motorists to obey traffic laws, are consistent factors behind our appalling death and injuries statistics. Of course, there are circumstances in which motorists cannot be faulted for accidents arising from mechanical failure and other reasons. But our national statistics are so out-of-line with other European countries that inappropriate driving behaviour must have a major bearing on road deaths. The incidence of fatal road accidents here is double that of Britain and we bump the top of the EU league table in terms of real and present danger on our roads.
Blaming the Government and the Garda S∅ochβna for this appalling situation is only part of the picture. They must bear a fair degree of responsibility for delays in producing reforming legislation and in the allocation of resources and for a lack of consistency in implementing traffic laws. But responsibility for obeying the law still resides with individual motorists. Until a culture of responsible behaviour takes hold that rejects speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol, the number of deaths on our roads will remain unacceptably high.
Although 300 people were killed on the roads this year, this figure represents a gradual improvement on past statistics. Increased Garda activity in recent years has led to a doubling in the number of speeding fines imposed while the number of motorists charged with drunk driving has also risen sharply. And yet the incidence of non-compliance with traffic laws continues to reflect the near-invisibility of the Garda as a consistent and effective traffic police force. The percentage of cars and commercial vehicles breaking established speed limits exceeds 50 per cent. And more than half of all drivers still fail to wear seat belts. Reform of the driving-test system is also urgently required, where 43 per cent of those seeking a full licence fail the test. But until non-compliant motorists worry about being caught breaking the law, little will change.