Vol. 196 No. 9
asked the Minister for Justice if having regard to recent reports of a prosecuted motorist quoting him in defence of a charge of passing to the left of other vehicles he will state the legal position regarding overtaking other vehicles, and his own recommendations in the matter.
94.
asked the Minister for Justice whether, having regard to recent press reports of a prosecution against a motorist for passing on the left inside of other vehicles in O'Connell Street, Dublin, any prosecution was taken against the drivers of the other vehicles involved in view of the fact that the distance of the other vehicles from the kerb appears to have made it possible for the prosecuted motorist to pass inside them.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 94 together.
It is not correct that the charge in the case referred to was one of passing to the left of other vehicles. The charge was one of dangerous driving and driving without due consideration. I would not feel justified in making any detailed reference to an identifiable case but if the Deputy re-reads the press reports to which his Question refers he will see that the mere fact of passing on the inside was not the reason for the prosecution.
The recommendation I made and which I wish to repeat here is to the effect that in congested traffic conditions and particularly at the approaches to traffic lights, drivers should help to ease congestion by using all available lanes. I have, however, made it quite clear that I was not advocating zig-zag driving, "cutting-in" or any other practices inconsistent with the overriding obligation of all road users to avoid causing danger or unnecessary inconvenience to others.
