23 March 2011 – The President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Paul Mallee, has said the new Road Traffic Bill 2011 introduced in the Dail today contains a package of common sense measures that should build on the great work that has been done in recent years to reduce the number of fatalities on Irish roads.

Mr Mallee said that we need only to reflect on the tragic events of the last weekend when there was a 50% increase from last year on the number of people killed on the roads over the St Patrick’s Day holiday to recognize the need to consistently improve standards.

Mr Mallee said that the Institute, as the representative body for those involved in the transport and logistics industries in Ireland, has a professional interest in improving safety standards on Irish roads and that measures such as the mandatory testing for alcohol of all drivers involved in accidents or collisions is a vital part of that.

Mr Mallee commented, “It is noteworthy that the first piece of legislation coming before the new Dail relates to road safety and improving standards involved. The measures based in this Bill are based on sound common sense, and when combined with the new lower permissible blood/alcohol limit to be introduced later this year, should help reduce the number of accidents overall.

“The campaign to improve standards and reduce fatalities is ongoing, and all transport bodies, representative groups, and operators will continue to work with the new Government in whatever we can to achieve that.

“On that basis, I hope that this legislation can be expedited through the Dail and implemented at the earliest opportunity.”