I'm Minister for Transport - Road Safety

AugustusMinimus

I know this may have been done a million times on here, but here is what I would implement if I was in office.

Instead of being incredibly narrow minded, I would try to come up with a range of solutions and I wouldn't treat the average motorists as either idiots or criminals. Revenue generation wouldn't be the aim of the game either.

Anyways.

1. Introduction of Specs speed camera system. This system would be used on the most dangerous sections of road in Ireland where it has been clearly shown that number accidents and fatalities have happened. Point speed cameras are useless. Average speed cameras are a good idea where needed.

2. Reassessment of all speed limits in Ireland. Take the control back from County Councils for Regional and Local roads in terms of speed limit setting. All roads should be reviewed with a lot of Regional roads such as the R639 put back up to 100kph. On the flip side, certain National Seconadry routes which don't deserve a 100kph should be put down to 80kph or whatever is actually appropriate.

3. Motorway speed limit. The limit should be increased to 130kph and gradually increased further until driving improves to such a degree that we can follow the autobahn system of having parts of our motorway network with no speed limit. Old sections which are deemed not safe enough can keep the original 120kph or 100kph limits.

4. Driver education to begin in secondary school. Rules of the Road, the basics of how to drive and even car maintenance should be though in school. Drivers need to know from an early beginning to know the rules of the road and to know if their car needs new tyres. Bang into their heads about correct lane usage on motorways too

5. A whole new testing/learning to drive system. This has been said a hundred times on here. I'd personally opt for two tests. One for basic driving. Once you have been driving for 6 months on your basic licence, you would take test two which would focus on motorway driving. Afer passing test 1, you would need an accompanying driver to be with you in the car to learn to drive on motorways.

6. Advanced driving lessons to be taken. Lessons on how to rescue control of a car if the backend flicks out. Driving in simulated low grip conditions such as heavy rain and ice.

7. Doubling of fines for each 2 penalty points received. Once you hit 6, you have to resit your driving test within 3 months of picking up your 6 point or you're off the road.

8. The end of patronising RSA campaigns towards young men. Such patronising campaigns don't work. In fact, it will only spur them on to speed even further. Young adults before they leave school should be introduced to the horrors of traffic accidents. The victims and indeed, the parents of lost ones could give youngsters a good talking to about road safety and how much one can lose through wrecklessness on the road. Would give out a much firmer and poignant message than "He drives, she dies"

9. Mandatory winter tyres from November to March each year. In the end, the real only additional cost would be the cost of 4 rims to run the winter tyres on and the additional upfront payment for the winter tyres. Lives could be saved and it could help bring down insurance premiums in the long term.

10. A more active presence from the Gardai in looking out for traffic offences outside of drink driving and speeding. Dangerous overtaking, awful lane discipline etc etc is hardly ever caught.

11. Red light cameras. I personally have no problem with these. I hate people who drive through red lights. As long as the sensors allow a sensible amount of time for people on ambers to drive through the junction I'm ok with this.

12. Illegals on motorways. Pedestrians, cyclists and tractors. I see them all the time on motorways. I see the same cyclists every Saturday morning on the M8 near Watergrasshill. I doubt a Garda has ever done anything about them. This wouldn't be tollerated in any other country.

13. Learner drivers without accompanying drivers. I though this was going to be clamped down on hard only a year or so ago. This seems to have completely gone out of the window. It's as simple as this. If you haven't passed the test, you haven't been validated as being a safe and competant driver and you shouldn't be on the road by yourself.

Tigger

Well you're obviously far too intelligent or informed to get elected so off you go