asked the Minister for the Environment the proposals, if any, he has to change the road traffic regulations so that speed obstacles can be installed in housing estates thus minimising the risk to children at play on the roads of these residential areas and if he will amend the Roads and Motorway Act, 1974, regulations accordingly as these impediments are most successful in the USA.
Written Answers. - Road Ramps.
43.
Section 32 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act, 1986, which came into force on 12 November, 1986, empowers the authority, subject to my approval, to direct a road authority, part or all of whose functional area is within the authority's functional area, to provide road ramps on a roadway in order to restrict the speed of mechanically propelled vehicles. The section also provides for the making of regulations by me specifying the procedures for the issue of such a direction and requirements as to the installation of the ramps and these regulations are now in course of preparation.
Consideration is being given to the inclusion in a road traffic Bill of appropriate provisions governing the installation of road ramps by road authorities in areas outside the functional area of the Dublin Transport Authority.
The primary aim of road ramps is to reduce vehicle speeds and in particular to minimise dangers to pedestrians and pedal cyclists, especially children, in residential areas.