Press Room

Macra na Feirme national president Colm Markey has called for the implementation of a number of key measures in relation to road safety.

Mr Markey said that as an organisation for young people in the seventeen to thirty-five age bracket, the issue of safe driving was of vital importance and was one that had been highlighted by the organisation on an ongoing basis. He also said that Macra an Feirme would be running a special road safety workshop at their annual conference at the weekend (Saturday, 28 October).

Mr. Markey this week outlined a number of proposals which Macra is putting forward as a means of addressing the carnage on Irish roads. The proposals form part of a Macra na Feirme policy document, 'Apply the Brakes' which was first published in 2003 and is currently being reviewed by the organisation. The proposals include:
A lower penalty points threshold for inexperienced drivers
A graduated driver licensing system
Road safety education in secondary schools

Explaining the rationale behind the proposals, Mr Markey said that his organisation believed the emphasis should be on changing driver behaviour. 'We believe that these proposals should be implemented immediately while the Government continues to work on a long term strategy,' he said.

The PROPOSALS

Lower penalty points threshold but with the emphasis on speeding.
'While there are 39 penalty point offences, Macra believes the emphasis should be on speeding. If a learner driver is caught speeding once we would have no problem with them being disqualified, while a 6 point limit for speeding should apply to people in their first three years of their full licence driving,' said Mr. Markey.

Graduated licensing system.
Macra has proposed the introduction of a trainee licence as a precursor to a provisional licence. Mr Markey explains:
'Under a trainee licence, people would be allowed to drive only while accompanied by a qualified driving instructor. This would ensure that drivers pick up good habits when they start driving. After the completion of five lessons, the learner driver would then be eligible to apply for a provisional license. This system would be implemented instead of the failed accompanying driver rule,' he said.

The immediate introduction of a road safety seminar in all secondary schools
Macra is recommending that all fifth year students be given a one-day training course in road safety. 'The Minister should ask the Road Safety Authority to begin work on designing and delivering this course as a matter of urgency. The course should include content from the Road Safety Authority, the Gardai, the motor insurance industry and accident victims or their families. Long term, a road safety module should be included as part of the secondary school curriculum,' said Mr Markey.

'The reality is that in rural areas the car is the only viable means of transport for young people so it's important that we use every possible opportunity to educate people about the risks and encourage them to drive safely,' he said.