Denis Naughten
Question:362 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the actions he intends to take to implement the European Road Safety Action Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17480/03]
Written Answers. - Road Safety.
The programme for Government states that a three year road safety strategy will be developed and will address speeding, drink-driving, the failure to wear seat belts and pedestrian safety in order to reduce deaths and injuries.
The high-level group on road safety has been tasked with the preparation of this new strategy. The preparation of the new strategy will take account of the achievements in meeting the tar gets set out in the Road Safety Strategy 1998-2002, a comprehensive review of that strategy and the evolving developments in relation to the recently published EU Third Road Safety Action Plan. The action plan presents a range of very general proposals across a very broad range of subjects, with the key areas being speeding, driving while intoxicated and seat belt wearing. These areas will also form the key target areas of the Irish road safety strategy and the proposals set out in the EU action plan are being used to feed into the development of our new strategy.
Preparation of the new strategy is well advanced and I expect to bring specific proposals for it to Government later this year.