Juno McEnroe - www.examiner.ie

Young drivers are five times more likely to lose their lives on the roads than other motorists, according to research released ahead of radical changes to the licensing system to be announced this week.

A total of 1,284 road users aged between 17 and 24 have died on the roads in the past 11 years.

The figures released by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) come as three more people were killed in weekend crashes and just days after four young people lost their lives just outside Killarney in Co Kerry.

Researchers examined the number, types, ages, gender, times and days of road deaths between 1997 and 2008. A key finding was that five times as many 17 to 24-year-old drivers have died in recent years compared with other age groups.

RSA chief Noel Brett said that while huge efforts were being made to educate young drivers and road- users, there was an ongoing battle to reduce the number of fatalities in which they are involved. "These figures are like something out of a war. If there were six jumbo jet crashes with the same amount of numbers involved, it would be a national emergency," said Mr Brett.
In addition to the numbers killed, another 4,153 young road users were seriously injured. The number of young road users aged 17 to 24 killed in the 11 years includes:

* Car drivers – 483.

* Car passengers – 350.

* Motorcyclists – 204.

* Pedestrians – 131.

* Other road users – 102.

* Cyclists – 14.

Mr Brett said the long- awaited Graduated Driving Licensing System, to be announced on Wednesday, would increase efforts to reduce the death toll on the roads.

"It's essential we have the support of young people and their parents and they understand why we want to take measures," he said.

"People will see that they're very proportionate and very fair. They do not penalise responsible novice and learner drivers but they are very, very strict on any of those who are not responsible."

As well as other road users, 483 male and female car drivers aged 17 to 24 died in the 11 years out of a total 1,627. This represents 37.6% of car driver deaths in the period.

The new licensing system is expected to include new rules on the minimum number of lessons learner drivers must take before being allowed to apply for their test.

Zero alcohol levels, night- time curfews and increased penalty points were also among the proposals considered during consultation on the new licensing system for learner drivers.

The RSA also looked at what time crashes took place as well as on which days of the week.



This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Monday, August 30, 2010


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