asked the Minister for Local Government if, having regard to the growing number of defective motor vehicles which are being sold by secondhand car dealers with consequent risk of injury to purchasers of such vehicles, to their passengers and to other road users, he will have expeditious and effective steps taken to prevent the sale of defective motor vehicles; and if he will warn the public against the danger of purchasing defective secondhand cars.
Ceisteanna—Questions (Resumed). - Sale of Defective Cars.
30.
Section 18 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 gives power for the institution of a scheme of periodic vehicle testing. However, a piecemeal approach to the problem of defective vehicles by the setting up of a scheme to deal with one facet only of the problem would not be justified. Section 12 of the Road Traffic Bill, 1966, contains provisions for the spot-checking of vehicles and the results of these checks will be used to determine the aspects of the problem, and their order of priority, to be dealt with under the scheme of periodic vehicle testing.
Section 8 of the Road Traffic Bill contains provisions relating to the control of supply of vehicles. These provisions, when and if enacted, can be extended to apply to the sale of secondhand vehicles if such a course is found to be desirable.
I am anxious that every person who uses a vehicle on the public roads should be fully alive to the necessity to have his vehicle in a proper roadworthy condition, and it follows that he should take reasonable precautions to ensure that he is purchasing a roadworthy vehicle. There is a special section in the Rules of the Road concerning vehicle fitness and every driver is required to be aware of this to qualify for his driving licence.
Will the Minister take cognisance of the fact that, human nature being what it is, most purchasers of secondhand cars will go after what appears to them to be a bargain rather than what is in fact a safe vehicle; and having regard to the simplicity of the procedure under which it will be an offence to sell a car without a certificate of fitness, would the Minister not regard this as a matter of urgent importance? As things stand at the moment, many serious accidents are happening because people are purchasing grossly unfit cars.
People are aware of the fact that it is their responsibility to see that vehicles they put on the roads are in roadworthy condition and I do not think it a desirable thing to place that responsibility on somebody else. In so far as the sale of vehicles is concerned, section 8 of the Road Traffic Bill now before the House contains provisions in this respect and if Deputy Ryan feels there is any way in which these provisions can be improved, he can put down amendments.
Will the Minister not agree it is almost criminal to allow firms to lead people into buying vehicles which are grossly defective?
I do.
This is happening in every back street in Dublin and throughout the country at the moment. The Minister has blood on his hands— that is the proper way to put it—as long as he helps this racket to continue.
It is not an easy thing to stop, but the responsibility is properly placed on the person in charge of a vehicle to ensure that it is in roadworthy condition.
Most people have not a clue what is happening under the bonnet or in regard to brakes.