The death of five motorcyclists on Irish roads during the weekend emphasised, as nothing else might, the need for compulsory basic training for bikers before licences are issued. Motorcyclists make up 2 per cent of road users, yet account for 14 per cent of fatalities. That is an unacceptable situation. It reflects not just the dangers in this form of transport and the vulnerability of bikers, but a long-running failure by government to accord a sufficient priority to different aspects of road safety.
It took the appointment of a Road Safety Authority (RSA) for the issue of motorcycle safety to be addressed. Arrangements are now being made for the training of special instructors. And a consultation process is under way concerning the introduction of compulsory basic training. It is a slow process of reform and the sooner it becomes operational, the better. It will replace a voluntary training scheme operated by the Garda Síochána.
So far this year, 131 people have died violently on the roads in this State. It is a dreadful statistic. And it hides an ocean of pain and loss for the bereaved families. But there has been a reduction of 21 deaths, compared to the same period last year. The situation is slowly improving, driven by a more intense level of Garda activity, particularly in relation to drink-driving offences. There is, however, room for significant improvements.
An area of particular importance involves the roadworthiness and safe handling of goods vehicles. The high incidence of speeding by truck drivers has been a matter of concern for years. But the promised speed cameras have not been installed. And there is a severe shortage of traffic policemen.
Some 60 per cent of Irish lorries checked on British roads last year failed to meet the required safety standards. Unsafe trailers, overloaded and unroadworthy vehicles and excessively tired drivers made up the list of faults. In this State, three official testers are employed to check the entire goods fleet. It is a travesty. And the Department of Transport is still "considering" the introduction of mandatory testing for goods vehicles and buses.
Minister for Transport Martin Cullen handed responsibility to the RSA last year and asked it to sort out this complicated mess. The authority has to cope with a backlog of thousands of motorists on provisional licences and the outrageous fact that, having failed the test, they can continue driving. Our roads are extremely dangerous places. And, because of under-funding, inaction and prevarication, the Government is at least partly to blame.