Better roads are not a licence to drive recklessly, Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, said at the launch of the Automobile Association's (AA) analysis of the Irish road network, EuroRAP.

"We need to continue to invest in roads to improve road safety. But, as the AA states and the statistics continuously show, driver behaviour continues to be the biggest factor. Sadly speed, no seat belt, drink and drugs continue to be the primary causes of road fatalities and injuries. Improved roads must be matched by improved driver behaviour."

"Road safety policies recognise that reducing the incidence of road collisions, fatalities and serious road injuries depends on measures to improve the interaction between road, vehicles, drivers and other road users. Behavioural issues are the single biggest contributory factor to road collisions.

"Irrespective of the level of collisions that can be directly attributed to road-related issues, it is important that we ensure that risk posed by the road is minimised. Engineering measures are an important element in the Government's Road Safety Strategy and an appropriate response to cases where the road was determined to be a contributory factory in a collision.

"The Government's Road Safety Strategy proposes that remedial measures be implemented on both the national and non-national road network, that traffic-calming schemes continue to be implemented and that road safety audits of new national road schemes continue. We will continue to do this".

Minister Cullen reiterated his belief that the provision of 2+1 roads can make a positive difference. He concluded by saying that the AA's analysis, with its focus on driver behaviour, was a valuable contribution to the road safety debate.