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1240/5(8466)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES BY CONNÉTABLE OF ST MARY
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 9th SEPTEMBER 2014
Question
Further to previous questions on aspects of road safety, can the Minister advise whether it is still the Department's intention to undertake a review of the Island's speed limits and if so, indicate its likely terms of reference and the anticipated timescale?
Furthermore, will the Minister advise the current position with regard to the possible introduction of penalty points for certain motoring offences?
What priority will the Minister be giving these matters in any "legacy" report he may choose to prepare for the next Minister?
Answer
My Department is in the process of producing a Road Safety Strategy. Appropriate and well enforced lower speed limits and the introduction of a penalty point system are two of 35 potential actions within the draft Strategy. A significant amount of research and key stakeholder consultation has taken place to inform its development. Positive feedback has been received with regard to the proposal for penalty points. With regard to speed limit policy, it would be valuable to carry out a public consultation before finalising proposals and my Department is currently preparing documentation for that consultation.
Although work is well advanced in these areas, there is more to be done, including ensuring that the Minister for Home Affairs is supportive of the proposals, as many of them relate to enforcement. It would be inappropriate to launch a consultation on proposed changes to the current speed limit policy or to finalise the Road Safety Strategy, knowing that a new Minister may be in my place shortly and there will certainly be a new Minister for Home Affairs. The work will therefore be finalised after the elections.
An assessment of Jersey's road injury data found that our serious road injury rate per head of population is 39% higher than in the UK and our road traffic accidents are estimated to cost the Island over £18 million per annum. This is evidence that we must invest more in road safety and I hope to be able to present the Road Safety Strategy to the States early in the New Year. If however I am not in a position to do so, I would certainly urge the new Minister to give the issue a high priority.