asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the high number of deaths resulting from tractors overturning, he proposes to introduce legislation so as to harmonise Irish laws with European laws in relation to the provision of roll-over structures in order to facilitate trade in these vehicles.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tractor Deaths.
3.
The Road Traffic (Construction Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, 1969 make it obligatory to fit safety frames to tractors not exceeding 7¼ tons unladen weight, or practically all agricultural tractors, while being used in a public place.
The evidence available to me suggests that there has been a significant reduction in fatalities and injuries due to tractors overturning since the above regulations were made. The average number of persons killed in the three years up to and including 1969 was 12 per annum compared with an average of six per annum in the three year period 1978 to 1980. Figures for 1981 and subsequent years are not readily available.
The regulations require that safety frames must be capable of satisfying a standard code for the official testing of agricultural tractors published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The European Communities (Vehicle Type Approval) Regulations 1980 also provide, inter alia, that tractors fitted with safety frames in compliance with Directive 77/536/EC shall be regarded as being in compliance with the Road Traffic (Construction Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations.
In the circumstances, I do not propose any further legislation. I understand that my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, has made general regulations implementing Directive 77/536/EC for type approval purposes in Ireland — the European Communities (Agricultural or Forestry Tractors Type Approval) Regulations, 1979.