Ireland has seen a marked decrease in city driving speeds and has the lowest percentage of vehicles breaking speed limits on motorways, according to a survey published today.
The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) today unveiled its 16th Road Safety Performance Index Programme measuring EU countries’ progress since 2001 in tackling excessive speed, drink driving and non-use of seat belts.
In Ireland, the speed of cars and vans on urban roads between 2002 and 2008 fell some 2.75 per cent yearly, a level surpassed only by the Czech Republic, with a fall of 4 per cent. The speed of vehicles on Irish urban roads was slightly above 50km/h in 2008 compared to speeds approaching 70km/h seven years earlier.
In 2008, the most recent figures for Ireland, 15 per cent of vehicles exceeded the speed limit on motorways, the lowest rate of all countries surveyed. This was followed by Lithuania (17 per cent), Austria (19 per cent) and Switzerland (24 per cent). Rates in this category are highest in Hungary, Spain and Britain.
In terms of speeding tickets, authorities in Ireland issued 40 speeding tickets in 2008 per 1,000 inhabitants, ranking it 14th out of 25 countries. The Netherlands leads the way, 558 tickets per 1,000, followed by Austria (456). The mean speed for the State rose slightly by 1km/h between 2002 and 2008, although it remains within the legal limit, the survey noted.
According to gardaí, an increase in size of the Traffic Corps, new speed equipment and the introduction of mandatory alcohol testing checkpoints have enhanced the enforcement of drink-driving laws and led to a change in the speeding culture. Later this year, a network of 45 speed cameras operated by a private company will also be introduced.
From January 31st, a controversial new speed limit extension of 30km/h was applied to parts of Dublin city centre.
The limit now applies to all roads within a city centre area extending from Bolton Street on the north side to Kevin Street Lower and St Stephen’s Green on the southside, and extending from Church Street and Bridge Street in the west to Gardiner Street, Tara Street and Dawson Street in the east.
The zone includes national roads such as O’Connell Street, Dame Street and the North and South Quays between Church Street and Tara Street.
Between 1997 and 2007, Dublin topped cities surveyed by the European body with a fall of over 12 per cent in the road mortality rate. However, an ETSC spokeswoman noted Dublin was coming from a higher base and was "catching up" with other cities in this downward trend.
According to the Road Safety Authority (RSA), the number of Irish road deaths fell to 239 in 2009, the lowest level on record, down 40 from 2008. The Government’s has set a road safety target of achieving no more than 252 deaths per annum by the end of 2012.
“If you look at how we are faring on speeding on motorways we are doing well. And we are making good progress on improving safety in our cities,” RSA spokesman Brian Farrell said.
Asked about the number of speeding notices issued in Ireland, Mr Farrell said Ireland could improve in this regard.
“In best practice countries they have automated speed detection systems and that is why you have significantly higher enforcement. And we will be able to increase our enforcement when we have the rollout of the safety camera next year”.
The ETSC is a Brussels-based independent non-profitmaking organisation seeking to cut the number and severity of crash injuries in Europe.
