asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state whether suitable arrangements have been made to advise the public as to the safety precautions to be taken to avoid accidents arising out of the resumption of large-scale road traffic.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Accidents—Precautionary Measures.
The matter referred to by the Deputy has received very full consideration by the various authorities concerned. A circular was issued some time ago to all road authorities instructing them to make immediate arrangements with their engineering officers to give special attention to the maintenance of warning signs on roads and, where necessary, to the replacement of worn or defaced signs. Attention was also directed to the use of white lines to guide traffic at bends or approaching bridges or narrow portions of the road. The local authorities were also instructed to arrange that footpaths where provided should be in condition and that where roads in the neighbourhood of towns and villages were not provided with footpaths special consideration should be given to such works under the current employment schemes.
My Department has had a booklet on road safety printed and a copy of this booklet will be issued next week to each holder of a current driving licence and with each new driving licence. A campaign of radio talks on road safety will be opened on Sunday next and will continue throughout the month and longer if necessary. In addition, a press and poster campaign will be carried out under the direct supervision of the Commissioner of the Gárda Síochána. It is proposed under the radio, press and poster campaign to emphasise the need for the exercise of reasonable precautions by all persons concerned, the motorist, the carter, the cyclist and the pedestrian. It is proposed to have lectures given by Gárda personnel in the schools and regular warnings will be given by the teachers but this must not be in any way regarded as relieving parents and guardians of children of the primary responsibility which rests on them in the matter. Steps have been taken to have barriers erected at exits from schools to prevent children from rushing out on the roads but this in turn must not be regarded as relieving the motorist or the cyclist or any other person in charge of a road vehicle from exercising extreme caution in the neighbourhood of schools. It is intended to continue for some time after normal traffic is resumed the present emergency speed limit of 30 m.p.h. in the interests of road safety and persons exceeding that limit will be liable to heavy penalties. It is at present an offence under the Road Traffic Act, 1933, punishable by a fine not exceeding £50, for a person to drive a mechanically-propelled vehicle in a public place which is by reason of any defect a danger to other persons and vehicles using such place. It is intended to empower the members of the Gárda Siochána to stop and examine all motor vehicles which are suspected of being in a defective condition. Similar power will be given to the Gárda to ensure that bicycles are fitted with effective brakes. I cannot, however, stress too strongly the importance of personal interest in this matter. Neither the Guards nor any other authority concerned can by any means whatever, whether by heavy penalties or other restrictions, induce road sense in the public mind and it is mainly on the good sense of the public that we rely if unnecessary deaths and accidents are to be avoided. The responsibilities of motorists, drivers of horse-drawn vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians, in securing safety on the roads cannot, however, be over-emphasised. The Road Traffic Act, 1933, and the regulations made thereunder will be rigidly enforced and persons contravening the law will find themselves before the Courts and liable to heavy penalties.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary renew representations to the Gárdaí to dissuade itinerants from camping on the side of trunk roads? They have to live somewhere and nobody objects to their camping on side roads. But, when they camp on trunk roads, it means that little children run out under the wheels of your car, and that piebald horses get entangled in your car. Would he also direct the attention of the agricultural community to the danger of allowing at least black cattle to ramble unattended on trunk roads in the middle of the night, because one would want to have better eyesight than I have to see black cattle at a distance of 50 yards on a dark night?
May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if it is proposed to introduce a code of signals for motorists, cyclists and various other users of the road? In the past, certain signals were in use but the fact that they were not universally standardised led to a good deal of confusion and, on many occasions I am sure, contributed to accidents. A road code which standardised signals would help the situation greatly.
Arising out of the supplementary questions, may I ask if it is intended to issue definite notices to the agricultural community that they are not to come within 50 yards of such roads, and that their only duty is to pay for them?
Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, let us hope that fruitful results will follow from the precautions which it is intended to take in regard to traffic on our main roads, and that these will prevent the loss of life. At the same time, I want to ask him, does he not consider that a speed of 30 miles an hour for vehicles passing through the streets of our cities, town and villages is too high? I think the Parliamentary Secretary should give that matter further consideration and agree that a speed of something like 15 miles an hour should be insisted upon pending the putting into operation of the precautions that he has indicated?
In connection with the poster and Press campaign referred to by the Parliamentary Secretary, will he say if he intends to resort to cinema advertising?
In reply to Deputy Dockrell's question, I want to say that there is already a standardised form of signals provided in the Road Traffic Act of 1933. With regard to the movement of live stock of all kinds, the Gárda Síochána have that matter under consideration with a view to preventing accidents in the case of unaccompanied animals. With regard to the question of the speed limit, the matter has had consideration by the Gárdaí. The question of altering the speed limit in any manner desired is under constant review. The question of publicity in the cinemas is also being considered, and an effort is being made to find suitable films?
Will the Parliamentary Secretary try to persuade the tinkers to withdraw to the bye-roads?
That matter has also had consideration.