Stark reminders of Government inaction on road safety

7.50.00am GMT Tue 21st Nov 2006

Alliance Youth Affairs Spokesperson, Ian James Parsley

Alliance Party Spokesperson on Youth Affairs, Ian James Parsley, has said recent road fatalities are another stark reminder that Northern Ireland needs a proper road safety strategy.

The North Down Councillor stated: "It is time for action on road safety, not just endless reports and ideas. The fatality rate is now rising above last year's, when we should be reducing the casualty rate dramatically.

"Some proposals have been put forward increasing the penalties for certain offences. However, this would have a limited effect. We need more effective enforcement of the rules of the road, particularly against careless driving and excess speed.

"I am told by police officers that they literally cannot police some of our most dangerous roads because they have nowhere to place themselves by the roadside. This alone indicates just how dangerous those roads are, including how inappropriate the speed limit on them is and how poor the road structures are. It is totally unacceptable that roads where

fatalities occur year after year go un-policed.

"Proposals placed to Government six years ago still apply. We need to change the R-plate system to remove ridiculous speed restrictions and instead ensure young people drive appropriate-sized vehicles and recognize how vulnerable they are, we need more effective road safety advertising, and most of all we need laws on careless driving and excess speed

enforced properly on the roads which are truly dangerous. It cannot be

emphasized enough that these roads are typically rural single carriageways, not

intercity motorways."

ENDS