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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Oct 1960

Vol. 184 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lighting of Stationary Vehicles.

84.

asked the Minister for Local Government whether in view of the large number of serious road accidents caused by vehicles running into parked lorries at night time he will take steps to make it obligatory for the front and rear of such lorries to be lighted in such a manner that the dimensions and contours thereof are easily visible to approaching traffic.

85.

asked the Minister for Local Government if in view of the large number of accidents, including many fatal accidents, resulting from inadequate rear lights on stationary vehicles, particularly lorries, he will make an order making it mandatory to have adequate rear lighting equipment on all vehicles, and, if necessary, prescribing that luminous paint should be used in a prominent position on the rear of lorries.

86.

asked the Minister for Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the number of serious accidents, some of which have proved fatal, which have occurred as a result of motor cars running into the rear of stationary or slow moving vehicles; and if he will take urgent steps to ensure that adequate rear illumination of such vehicles is made compulsory.

With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 85 and 86 together.

I am of opinion that accidents arising at night out of collisions with parked vehicles are due more to failure to observe the existing law than to defects in the law itself. The law at present requires that every motor vehicle, except a motor cycle, which is on a road at night must, whether moving or stationary, be equipped with two white front lights and one red rear light. All the lights must be duly lit and in such efficient condition that they are visible from a reasonable distance. Furthermore, it is an offence to leave a vehicle stationary on any road at any point less than 100 ft. from a curve or gradient which might have the effect of concealing the vehicle from other road users, or to park it otherwise than on the left hand side of the road during lighting-up hours. The enforcement of these provisions is a matter for the Garda Síochána, and in this connection I understand that the Commissioner has recently circularised all Garda stations as to the need for stringent enforcement of the lighting regulations.

In order to impress on the public how serious it is to leave a vehicle on a road at night where it may cause an accident, it is proposed to create in the Road Traffic Bill a further offence of parking unlit at night-time in such a way as to cause danger to the public and to provide a stiff penalty for such an offence.

While, as I have said, the existing lighting regulations, if observed, would reduce considerably accidents of the type mentioned by the Deputies, I am satisfied that the present regulations need to be reviewed in the light of developments in traffic and vehicle construction. This review is in hands in my Department as part of a general review of vehicle regulations. Account is being taken of the studies at present conducted by a number of international organisations on the problems involved. My hope is that, shortly after the Road Traffic Bill becomes law, the new regulations will be ready.

Could the Minister now indicate the approximate date on which the new Road Traffic Bill will be introduced?

In reply to the Deputy, and for the information of the House, I understand that the drafting of this new Bill is well advanced and it is hoped it will be possible to have it ready for circulation before we adjourn at Christmas, or at latest, during the Christmas Recess.

In view of the ever-growing number of fatal accidents which are caused by parked vehicles, would the Minister not think it desirable, pending new legislation, to get in touch with his colleague, the Minister for Justice, and see if steps can be taken, with the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána, or whoever is responsible for the administration of the law, to ensure that severe jail sentences will be imposed for such offences? It is a very serious matter.

That would seem to be a separate matter.

I quite agree that it is a most serious matter and I think it a scandal that roads which are used for getting to and from given points should be used otherwise, as is the case in these instances. In so far as getting stiff sentences imposed, that is not something which is at the discretion of the Garda, and indeed it may not be within the discretion of the courts under the law in such cases. As I said in my reply in regard to the particular item complained of here, the Commissioner of the Garda has been in touch with every Garda station, drawing attention to this matter and asking them stringently to enforce the law.

In the new Road Traffic Bill, would the Minister consider ensuring that rear lights should be provided for motor cyclists in addition to rear lights and reflectors for any other vehicle which may be used on the road? I came across a fatal accident where a motor cyclist crashed into a tinker's cart——

The Deputy seems to be getting away from the Question.

I shall take notice of it.

Many of these breakdowns in large lorries are due to trouble with the battery. Usually it is not possible to keep a light on the vehicle during the night or until the necessary mechanical assistance can be provided to get the vehicle going again. In addition, some of the rear lights are fairly high up on these vehicles and if one is driving against traffic, with dimmed lights, one cannot pick up the rear reflector on the vehicles. Would the Minister see if he has power to require these people at least to use luminous paint low down on the vehicle not as a defence for parking without lights but in order to give other people driving cars a chance to escape death? Until such time as we tighten up the law, something should be done as an interim measure. Anybody travelling the main road south, as I frequently do at night time, will admit that it is quite a hazard with lorries parked on the roadside with no lights.

Surely the Deputy is not suggesting that all these vehicles are so parked because they have broken down? Nine out of 10 offenders park indiscriminately, with no regard whatever for the other users of the road. The question of a break-down does not arise in more than a few cases and surely it is in the interest of the owner to take precautions to keep within the law.

What precautions can a driver of a 10-ton lorry, with no helper, and with nobody to give him a hand, take? He just parks there and gets a lift to the city and says: "We will have a look at it tomorrow."

I am not talking about that case.

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