asked the Minister for Local Government if he has yet reached a decision regarding the provision of additional lighting for pedestrian crossings.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Pedestrian Crossing Illumination.
112.
As has already been indicated, in reply to previous Parliamentary questions on the subject, the illumination of pedestrian crossings can best be achieved by the provision of public lighting to traffic route standards. In the Dublin area improved public lighting is being provided by Dublin Corporation and Dublin County Council, with the emphasis on the radial routes.
These authorities are also carrying out an on-going evaluation of means of enhancing the visibility of the crossing and the persons using it.
Is the Minister aware that many of these pedestrian crossings, particularly in the evenings and right through the night, are, in fact, a death trap because even the public lighting which is supposed to light the crossings is sometimes masked with the result that it is almost impossible to see a pedestrian on the crossing until one is almost beside him? Would he suggest some type of strip lighting directly over the crossing which would show up a person using the crossing?
I am having a look at this matter at the moment and considering whether advance warning of pedestrian crossings might be given in certain cases.
That is not necessary. One can easily see the flashing beacon. I am a pretty careful driver and I often find it difficult to see a person on the crossing, particularly at Swords village where there is a pedestrian crossing in the middle of the village. That is so badly lighted that it is impossible to see a person on the crossing until one is right beside him. There are a number of those throughout the country.
As I said in my reply. in introducing improvements to the street lighting system priority is given to areas where pedestrian crossings exist. Those areas should be improved first if it is possible to do it in the course of carrying out a programme of work. Secondly, we are reluctant to erect new pedestrian crossings where the existing lighting is inadequate and where it is not expected that this can be improved within a reasonable time of the provision of the pedestrian crossing. This question of adequate lighting of pedestrian crossings is a matter of very great importance and it is something on which we are keeping a close eye. If there are special cases where lighting is not adequate at the moment, I can only say that we hope to improve the position as quickly as possible within the resources available to us but if there are any particularly bad ones that the Deputy might know of similar to the one that he mentioned, we will have a look at them because, as an interim arrangement, we have erected special lights on some pedestrian crossings where we felt this might be useful but, generally, it creates other problems in that it encourages the pedestrian to have a greater sense of safety than he might otherwise have and not to be as careful as he otherwise might be. If the area of the crossing is specially lit it may be very clear to him but it might not be so clear to oncoming drivers in certain driving conditions. It is a matter that is being considered.
Swords is particularly bad.
I will take a note of the one at Swords.
The remaining questions will appear on next Tuesday's Order Paper, unless Deputies require written answers. These may be obtained in the General Office.