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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 21 Nov 1951

Vol. 127 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Traffic By-Laws.

asked the Minister for Justice what are the difficulties of enforcement which deter the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána from making a by-law directing that heavy vehicles must maintain an interval of 25 yards from each other, and whether the same difficulties exist in the enforcement of the "dimming" by-law; and, if not, why not.

Mr. Boland

The main difficulty in the enforcement of such a by-law is that it would be necessary in practice to prove that a driver found inside the 25-yard limit was not about to pass the vehicle in front. To prove this, it would be necessary to keep the vehicle under constant observation and this could be done only by mobile patrols. Such patrols are not, however, available for the Dublin-Naas road at present.

The difficulty mentioned does not apply to the enforcement of the law relating to the dimming of lights.

Is the Minister aware that the law relating to the dimming of lights is unfortunately much more often broken than observed?

Mr. Boland

I am aware of that because it is so hard to enforce it.

Can the Minister tell me if, on the Continent, it is found possible to enforce such a law as I have suggested should be enforced here?

Mr. Boland

The Deputy is a motorist himself and he understands the difficulty as well as I do.

Did the Minister hear me? Can the Minister tell me why it is possible on the Continent to enforce a law that such vehicles must be 25 metres apart from each other?

Mr. Boland

I think I have explained the matter to the Deputy.

Would the Minister, when he goes to Strasbourg next week, take steps to find out?

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