Is the First Stage opposed?
Road Traffic Bill, 1939—First Stage (resumed).
Question again proposed: "That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend sub-section (1) of Section 147 of the Road Traffic Act, 1933."—(Deputies Benson and Dockrell).
This Bill is a proposal to amend Section 147 of the Road Traffic Act, 1933. That particular section gives power to the Commissioner of the Gárdaí to make certain regulations, and the proposal in this Bill is that the objects for which he may make such regulations should be added to by giving him power to prohibit the sounding of horns in specified areas during a specified time. The idea behind the Bill is that the powers granted under it could be used in the populated areas for the purpose of prohibiting the sounding of horns during the later hours of the evening. This is a thing which has been done in many of the larger cities of Europe and I think in every case where it has been done it has met with the approval of the residents on account of the diminution of the noise. In addition to that, my own view is that it adds considerably to the safety of night driving.
The present position, particularly in this city, is very largely that when a man driving a car approaches a road junction he puts his finger on the horn and says to himself: "Now, the road is mine" and over he goes, regardless of what may be coming in other directions. If this Bill were adopted, and the commissioner made the necessary regulations under it, the effect would be that a driver approaching a corner would know that he could not sound his horn. The man approaching from another section of the junction would not sound his horn either and the general tendency would be that drivers would approach the junction more slowly and they would make sure that there would be no other traffic in the way. I may say that for about three years I have made hardly any use of my horn, day or night, and the tendency undoubtedly is to take a road junction in a more careful manner and there is a greater margin of safety for pedestrians and for other traffic on the roads.
This regulation is in operation in London from 11 o'clock or 11.30 o'clock, and it is also in operation in Paris and Rome during the whole 24 hours. Paris, I think, is a particularly good example, because the conditions on the roads there were at one time very bad. The taxis were inclined to drive about at great speed, and the drivers had little pip-squeak horns which they used to sound vigorously everywhere. The effect of a similar order there has been that the sounding of horns has been greatly reduced or abolished, and the general effect upon the traffic has been a considerable improvement from the point of view of safety. I hope the Minister will change his mind and accept this Bill. Alternatively, if he cannot do that, if he is prepared to say that the Road Traffic Act requires amendment and that an amending Bill will shortly be introduced, and that he will give consideration to the inclusion of this item in such amending legislation, that will satisfy me, at all events, for the moment.
The section referred to by Deputy Benson contemplated regulations being made by the commissioner. These regulations have not been made. If the Deputy wants to secure what he has in mind, he would require to amend Section 15 as well. Sub-section (3) of Section 15, which seems to be mandatory, provides that the Minister must make regulations providing that each vehicle should carry some sort of warning instrument. That is not a point I want to emphasise because, if we were to accept Deputy Benson's present proposal, then we could meet him in that matter.
I am quite aware that what the Deputy says is correct as to the position in London, in other parts of England, in Rome and in Paris. But we have not reached that position here yet. In London and in other parts of England the density of traffic is ten times greater per mile than it is in Dublin or in other parts of this country. That, as Deputies will appreciate, has a great slowing-down effect on traffic. Where horns are usually sounded is at the point of intersection of streets or roads, passing slow-moving vehicles and careless pedestrians. In the City of Dublin a good deal of progress has been made in the erection of automatic signals at crossings. We have not yet reached the position where the work of dealing with traffic difficulties in the city has been completed or is even in a good way towards being completed. If these automatic signals were erected at the crossings, I think you would have very little of the sounding of horns.
I am informed that if I accepted the Deputy's proposal the Commissioner would not feel satisfied at present to make a regulation under it. I am acting on that advice. He would not consider it safe in the present state of traffic, and for these reasons I must oppose the Deputy's proposal at this stage. Certain amendments are, no doubt, necessary to the Road Traffic Act, but they are not of a very urgent or important character. They may be introduced, perhaps in the next session, and when introducing them I will take the opinion of the Commissioner of Police again. As the Deputy will appreciate, I will have to be guided largely by the opinion expressed by the police. At the present stage I could not accept the proposal.
In view of the Minister's statement, and the possibility that some such steps will be taken later, I am prepared to withdraw the Bill.
Question, by leave, withdrawn.
The Dáil adjourned at 10.30 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Thursday, 7th December.