I support the motion. This is a timely debate, coming as it does after the Christmas recess, during which there has been continuing carnage on the roads. Thankfully, however, there has been a reduction across the island of Ireland with 39 fewer deaths last year than in 2005. While we should not become complacent, it is nevertheless important to recognise the work that is being done by various civil agencies. Unfortunately, the World Health Organization estimates that the number of people killed and injured on the roads will increase by 60% between 2000 and 2020. We are halfway there already.

Road deaths and injuries are preventable. My concern is that people think that road deaths are inevitable and a daily occurrence. People often dismiss danger by saying that it would be more dangerous to cross the road. Unfortunately, they are correct, but there does not seem to be a system to rectify that, to reduce the number of deaths and to make the roads safer.

That could be achieved in several different ways — for instance, by making additions to roads and changing road design. Cycle paths are important because cyclists are among the most vulnerable road users, particularly in towns. We want to encourage people to cycle more, so we must provide pathways and encourage cyclists to use them, not only in the urban situation but in rural areas. Safer pathways for pedestrians are also necessary.

Slow lanes for tractors are also required; one of the main frustrations on country roads is the slow pace at which those vehicles move. Some areas have introduced slow carriageways in certain parts and for short distances. Unfortunately, that can create its own problems as traffic moves and pulls back out onto the main road; however, tractors are being used more and more for the transportation of vehicles, diggers and equipment, so we must find a fast-track approach to the issue. We must design roads differently to take account of the changing nature of road users.

My colleague Conor Murphy raised the issue of dual carriageways in reference to the Dromore bypass and the new A1. The same situation arises in other areas — for example, a vehicle crossing a dual carriageway has its tail sticking out onto the fastest lane of the carriageway, or a slow-moving tractor tries to cross both lanes.

More dangers are being created for tractor users, those in slow-moving vehicles and those in oncoming vehicles. The safety of those drivers and their passengers is being compromised. We must find ways in which to deal with all those problems in order to improve road users’ health and safety.

The good work done by the Committee on the Environment led to the decision to introduce seat belts and smaller seats for children on school buses. It is important to note, however, that, despite the Committee’s efforts, the situation has not improved. School buses in my area still travel with 60 or 70 children on board, perhaps 20 of whom are standing. It is difficult enough when schoolchildren must sit three to a seat, which has long been the situation. However, schoolchildren’s safety is increasingly endangered as a result of having to stand on buses, perhaps for a journey of two or three miles. They risk sliding about as they move up and down the bus, carrying large school bags. The Committee’s recommendations must be implemented. The issues that I have raised highlight the change that is required.

Road design is also a concern, especially in the many rural areas that are being urbanised. The first requests that people who build mansions in the countryside make is for a kerbed footpath to be built in front of it and for street lighting to be installed. The result is that there is lighting for about 10 or 20 yds, followed by complete darkness. People who wish to keep vehicles off the wee bit of grass outside their home are protecting it by putting large stones or big concrete blocks on it. In doing so, however, they endanger drivers who have to pull onto that grass, and who may not see the stones. In my area, people have been severely injured in accidents that have occurred because of that.

DRD has a responsibility to remove those stones — in fact, it has a legal requirement to do so, but that is not happening. Those stones are obstacles on the road. At least a vehicle will bounce off a kerb, back onto the road; however, the same vehicle will burst a tyre on the stones, go onto the grass verge and over a hedge or into a wall. The urbanisation of rural areas must be addressed, as must road design.

Road traffic accidents result in the deaths of 350 people a day across the World Health Organization region. That figure is very large. If that happened in any other walk of life, there would be a major outcry. The number of deaths each year equates to the number of people who might die in a major catastrophe. The figure is the equivalent of the population of a medium-sized city being killed each year.

At least 2·4 million people are also injured or disabled as a result of road accidents each year. Those figures come up time and time again, but, unfortunately, the injured and the disabled are often forgotten about. Deaths raise road safety’s profile; however, the injured, and what they endure in the aftermath of accidents, are often overlooked. Therefore we need a common signage system throughout the island of Ireland.

Many Members, including Mr Poots when speaking to the amendment, have raised the issue of the rigorous driver-testing framework. We need a new driving test, because ours is outdated, and many Members who spoke have accepted that. I am surprised that there is nit-picking over the motion, because the introduction of a new framework is important. If the amendment is made, the resolution will not include our call for its introduction. For that reason, I ask Members to consider supporting the motion as it stands.

The motion calls for the development of a national road safety campaign. We can nit-pick over the issue of the definition of “national”, but the reality is that people who travel back and forward across the border daily are encountering different signage, road speeds and markings. We must adopt a common approach. It does not matter that we might have a British national safety campaign and an Irish national safety campaign — the two can combine. The priority is to reduce the number of injuries and deaths on the road and the number of accidents. Therefore it is important that the House unite on the issue of road safety. We should adopt a common approach to road deaths and their impact rather than allow ourselves to get sidetracked by politics.

We are supposed to be two European regions working side by side. We were told that all those differences would be done away with whenever we joined the European Economic Community (EEC). All those things that we were told would unify us — common signage and road speeds — we do not have, unfortunately. I ask Members to examine and deal with that very important element.

My colleague Francie Brolly pointed out that in the South, insurance and MOT certificates must be displayed along with the tax disc. It is important to know, before drivers go on the road, that the quality of vehicles has been tested and that people are insured. Too often, people are victims of someone who is not insured and find that they have no comeback. The most dangerous person on the road is frequently the one who has no insurance. We should not split hairs on this matter, but should work together to ensure that the number of deaths and accidents on the roads is reduced. There should also be, across the island of Ireland, a common policy and a properly financed and resourced road safety agency.

I ask Members to support the motion.