I thank the Member for his intervention. We support the harmonisation of road traffic systems and legislation so that offenders with previous convictions have those offences taken into consideration and can be dealt with appropriately.

Many Members have lost people on the roads, including constituents, and we all have visited the sad houses of those killed on the roads. That is no different in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, where there are heartbreaking circumstances around some of the deaths. The fact that one is more likely to be killed around the border is an indictment that needs to be addressed. John Dallat said that he thought there would be more joint initiatives and more harmonisation of penalty points post-St Andrews. He talked about the “red-flag” Act and how speed and drink-driving contributed to road deaths. He spoke of the need for road traffic education using France and Scandinavia as examples.

Education was a common theme throughout the debate. John Dallat pointed to examples from the Twenty-six Counties, where the Road Safety Authority has 309 full-time staff and many more powers to reduce road deaths. He said that extending those powers throughout the island would help reduce deaths on the roads. He also talked about the driving test and how people can be caught drink-driving the following morning when they think it is safe to drive. He mentioned the need for a new approach to the issue and the need to harness experience across the island and work together. That was a positive contribution. John also talked about the adverts on television and the fact that they encourage young people to drive fast, and that road safety has to be a priority for the new Assembly and Executive.

Kieran MrCarthy said that road safety needs to be the number one priority; that there was an increased volume of traffic on the roads; that people need to have respect for cars and other road users and that cars should be treated as lethal weapons. He pointed out that the legislation was out of date and used the drink-driving limit as an example. He also mentioned the reduction in the roads budget and how that had adversely affected the introduction of seat belts on buses.

Jeffrey Donaldson said that although there was a reduction in road deaths, the figure was still too high and that, unfortunately, Lagan Valley topped the league table for fatalities. He said that the statistics are frightening and that more deaths occur in rural areas. He talked about the percentage of young men in the road accident figures and said that 50% of accidents are down to careless driving. He also talked about education, the retraining of driving offenders, the draft Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 2007, and the all-party group on road safety that hopefully will not lead to the same divisiveness that we saw from some Members this morning.

Billy Armstrong spoke about education and the changes to legislation. Conor Murphy talked about the difficulties with border roads. He mentioned the work of CAWT, and that people are much more likely to be involved in an accident in border areas. He talked about speed, road structure and due diligence. He said that education is vital and that young men are more likely to be involved in accidents. He suggested that the education process should be extended to primary schools.

One point Conor made was about detection and appropriate punishment, and how that should concern all agencies on the island. That would impact on what Mr Ramsey just said. Conor talked about road structure in rural areas and highlighted the difficulties and the amount of lobbying that had to be done to get street lighting on the Newry bypass. He talked about people who drive unfit vehicles and how those who sell such vehicles cannot evade their responsibilities.

Margaret Ritchie talked about the strategy, policies and the implementation plan for road safety; that we need robust measures, and that it should be the number one priority as it is in the Twenty-six Counties. She said we should examine the causes of accidents, the equal importance of the driver’s state of mind and what had provoked accidents. Margaret highlighted the inadequate resources for road safety and the lack of authority, will and expertise, and pointed out the direct-rule Administration’s lack of concern and will to do anything about it. She also highlighted that the sense of loss in accidents occurring during the Christmas period had been palpable.

A lot of the same themes came up. Michael McGimpsey talked about margin of error and the 18 to 25 age group — particularly in Scotland and Sweden.

Francie Molloy referred to World Health Organisation statistics and the global number of road deaths. He spoke about changes to roads and stressed that consideration must be given to the fact that road needs are different now to what they were. Francie talked also about the urbanisation of roads in rural areas and the need for common road signage.

Maurice Morrow gave us two or three minutes of vitriol. He deliberately misconstrued Connor Murphy’s contribution. I phased out his voice and quit listening after a while. It was a typical political point-scoring exercise from the DUP.

Road safety is a hugely important issue. It would have been good if all parties had united to ensure that we go forward with a commitment to make road safety a priority in the next Assembly. Everyone must work together. We need devolution, a new Executive and a new Minister to ensure that fewer people are killed on the roads.

I support the motion. Go raibh míle maith agat.

Question put, That the Amendment be made.

The Assembly divided: Ayes 36; Noes 26.

Ayes

Billy Armstrong, Norah Beare, Roy Beggs, Billy Bell, Paul Berry, Esmond Birnie, Thomas Buchanan, Gregory Campbell, Wilson Clyde, Michael Copeland, Robert Coulter, Leslie Cree, George Dawson, Nigel Dodds, Jeffrey Donaldson, Reg Empey, David Ford, Arlene Foster, Samuel Gardiner, Paul Girvan, William Hay, David Hilditch, Danny Kennedy, Kieran McCarthy, William McCrea, Alan McFarland, Michael McGimpsey, Lord Morrow, Stephen Moutray, Ian Paisley Jnr, Edwin Poots, George Robinson, Iris Robinson, Peter Robinson, Mervyn Storey, Peter Weir.

Tellers for the Ayes: Billy Armstrong and David Hilditch

Noes

Alex Attwood, Dominic Bradley, Mary Bradley, Francis Brolly, Thomas Burns, Willie Clarke, John Dallat, Tommy Gallagher, Michelle Gildernew, Carmel Hanna, Gerry Kelly, Alban Maginness, Fra McCann, Raymond McCartney, Alasdair McDonnell, Barry McElduff, Philip McGuigan, Francie Molloy, Conor Murphy, John O’Dowd, Tom O’Reilly, Pat Ramsey, Sue Ramsey, Margaret Ritchie, Caitriona Ruane, Kathy Stanton.

Tellers for the Noes: Sue Ramsey and Margaret Ritchie

Question accordingly agreed to.

Main Question, as amended, put and agreed to.

Resolved:

That this Assembly notes the ongoing tragedy of deaths and serious accidents on our roads and calls on an incoming Executive to introduce a wide ranging strategy involving all relevant agencies, including measures reflecting international best practice, to tackle the problem; with particular attention paid to those most likely to be involved in road traffic accidents.

The sitting was suspended at 1.06 pm.

On resuming (Madam Speaker in the Chair) —