asked the Minister for Local Government if he is satisfied that present enactments give ambulances and fire brigades adequate power of right of way in traffic when answering emergency calls.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Traffic Bye-Laws.
66.
The drafting of regulations to replace the Road Traffic General Bye-Laws, 1964 is proceeding and the question of whether special provision should be included in these regulations to confer right of way in certain circumstances on emergency vehicles is being considered.
Would the Minister consider the silencing of those sirens after midnight when there is no traffic and when they are waking up ordinary citizens?
The use of a siren is a matter for the discretion of the driver of the vehicle when he is attending to an emergency.
If the Minister were to make regulations prohibiting their use after midnight it would end the matter.
I do not propose to make any such regulation.
Why?
This should be left to the discretion of the person driving the vehicle.