The government’s new road safety strategy will need to have ’realistic targets’.

That was the message from Home Affairs Minister Bill Malarkey.

He said the strategy, due to be released later this year, would be based on research and evidence gathered.

The minister said: ’Realistic targets have to be reached and that will be the main part of analysing over the coming weeks.’

He was responding to questions in Tynwald this week tabled by Bill Shimmins (Middle), who sought an update on the implementation of the new strategy.

Mr Malarkey said: ’I am keen for the strategy to take effect as soon as possible. ’The next step is to analyse the suggestions put forward by both the public and [Tynwald] members during the recent consultation exercise. It is intended this work will be concluded in August.’

Home Affairs department member Alex Allinson (Ramsey) added: ’The safe system approach being used looks at all road users in the first place, together with the structure and design of the road but also looks at the individual’s responsibility to take care of their own behaviour on the road.’

Work on the overall strategy is currently on hold until after the TT, which had its own road safety campaign launch this week.

Earlier this year, Mr Malarkey said work was taking place to ensure more meaningful data was collected to assess accident rates.