asked the Minister for Local Government if he has yet made a decision on the question of having safety frames fitted to the rear of lorries and other large commercial vehicles.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Vehicle Safety Equipment.
41.
As it is reasonable to conclude that rear-end collisions can frequently be attributable to failure to see the rear of the vehicle ahead in time, I am considering as a first step issuing regulation, under the Road Traffic Act, 1961, which will make it obligatory to mark the rear and sides of large vehicles with reflective and fluorescent markings. The usual notice to the public of my intention to make such regulations and inviting comments from interested parties will be published shortly. Also, as I have already indicated in reply to a similar question on 22nd April, the question of whether to prescribe the fitting of protective crash barriers or other devices is being considered in a review of regulations relating to vehicles now being conducted by my Department.
I thank the Minister for his suggestion that he is going to do something about having the vehicles properly lighted; but is he aware there have been numerous accidents this year because of the fact that small vehicles have run underneath in most cases large motor vehicles, such as lorries, which were held up on the road, stopped in fog or for other reasons? Would he now take action to consider this matter and not leave it until next winter before the decision is made?
It is under active consideration.
It was under active consideration before.
42.
asked the Minister for Local Government when he expects the regulations regarding safety frames on tractors to come into operation.
Regulations requiring a tractor when used in a public place to be fitted with a safety frame were made by me on 18th July. The regulations will come into force on 1st September, 1970, for tractors newly registered on or after that date. The regulations will apply to all tractors from 1st September, 1977.
Would the Minister not agree that the fact of ensuring that this is only done in a public place means many vehicles which are used in farms, where a number of the accidents have occurred, can still be without safety frames? Would he not agree that an effort should be made to have the frames fitted on all tractors, not only on the new ones? Is there any reason why the regulation should not be applied to all tractors? We should not have to wait until 1977, which is a long time away.
With regard to the latter part of the Deputy's question, it may be something of a hardship to require those frames to be fitted to existing tractors. The idea is that they should be fitted to all new tractors and, by 1977, that it should be extended to all tractors. With regard to the question of tractors not used in a public place, I am considering that in conjunction with the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.
Will the Minister not agree that the fact that lives are being lost should be the primary consideration and that, even if it is something of a hardship to have frames fitted on tractors already in use, if it saves lives an effort should be made to have the regulation applied to all tractors?
I do not think it would be practical to make it compulsory for all existing tractors, but it is of course advisable to have the frames fitted to existing ones. I hope this will be done on a voluntary basis.
If there was a suggestion that they would be made available for purchase, surely that would help?
Would it be possible to bring forward this date of 1977, which sounds slightly preposterous in this age? We can go to the moon and yet we cannot fit a safety device to all tractors before 1977.
There is no technical difficulty in doing it but some people would find it a hardship to have to do this on existing tractors.
Is the Minister suggesting that all those tractors will last for eight years?
Question No. 43 postponed.