asked the Minister for Defence whether he has considered the danger arising to the travelling public by the proposal contained in Emergency Powers (No. 120) Order dated 21/10/1941 that barriers or obstacles may be placed on any road without any notice of warning in the neighbourhood, and without any lights at night to indicate such obstacles, and whether he will cause the order to be withdrawn and amended so that such barriers and obstruction shall be indicated at least by a light at night, and if not, if he will state what is the reason for instituting such a dangerous practice.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Barriers.
The Emergency Powers (Control of Roads) (No. 2) Order, 1940, conferred on officers commanding commands, districts and brigades the power to stop up public roads within their functional areas, and provided that where a public road was stopped up by means of a physical obstruction, lights sufficient for the warning of passengers should be set up at night. Pursuant to that order, paraffin oil lamps were placed at the various road barriers which have been erected throughout the country. Recently, however, there has been considerable interference with these lamps. In some cases they have been extinguished— whether maliciously or by persons with a misplaced sense of humour, I do not know. In others, the paraffin oil has been removed from the lamps while, in further cases again, the lamps have been stolen. Where reflectors were inserted in the concrete blocks by the military authorities, they have in a number of cases been removed. Owing to the very large numbers of these barriers and their locations, it is not practicable to maintain nightly guards at them.
I was advised by the law officers that, in view of the terms of the Control of Roads (No. 2) Order, 1940, the commanding officers responsible for the erection of obstructions on roads would also be responsible at law for any damage or injury that might result from, inter alia, the absence of lights at those obstructions. In view of the impossible situation thus arising in the circumstances to which I have already referred, it was felt, after full consideration, that there was no option but to provide that barriers need not be lighted at night.
While the officers concerned are thus relieved by the new order of responsibility at law, the danger to the public was appreciated, and to obviate it to the greatest possible extent arrangements have been made by me for the continuance, in practice, of the warning signs which have been erected at, and in the vicinity of, road barriers The military authorities have also been instructed to continue the night lighting of the barriers in any cases where they may consider such a course practicable. Having regard to the practices which I have outlined, I fear that it will not be found practicable in many cases but, as an alternative, it is intended once again to insert reflectors in the concrete blocks and to whitewash the blocks. An appeal was about to be made to the public by Press and radio not to interfere with these reflectors, but I think I may appropriately avail of the present opportunity to make that appeal now. Since the removal of reflectors is possibly, in the main, the work of children, I would specially appeal to parents and guardians to impress on children the dangerous results of this practice. I would also ask every member of the public to do everything possible to discourage the practice and to report immediately and fully to the Gárda Síochána any instances of interference with lights or reflectors which come to their notice.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, a warning to road users as to the necessity for exercising the greatest caution when driving at night has been broadcast and has appeared in the public Press. This warning will be repeated at frequent intervals.