Deputy John Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny), has been given permission to raise the subject matter of Question No. 28 of 26 November which related to car lights that cannot be dimmed, with consequent danger to road users at night.
Adjournment Debate. - Motor Vehicle Lighting.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I have twice put down questions to the Minister regarding the standard of car lights. On the first occasion, in 1989, he told me he was unaware that any problem existed and said if I knew of any to let him know. When I asked him in 1990 what the position was he informed me that there was no change from his previous answer. It may be the streak of jealousy in me that makes me wonder if that is due to his advantage of being chauffeur driven to the west of Ireland and not having to look at lights.
On any given night seven out of every ten on-coming cars have lights that are going in all directions except the left hand side of the road. It is only the grace of God that people are not killed in those blank spots when drivers can see absolutely nothing. I have been told that the cheap lights imported from the East cannot be focused, and that is one of our main problems. Another problem is that we are not concerned about the condition of car lights. We take it for granted that once they come on they are all right. The Minister should consider this a serious problem. More could be done in this area to save people's lives than in many other areas. In some cases it is obvious that the on-coming driver has dimmed the lights but they have become less glaring. If everybody ensured their lights were working properly people would have more comfort when driving.
Another problem is caused by what I would term the eunuch coming along who, when he dims, has only one light and one does not know what side of the road he is on. The Minister should consider this matter more seriously than to reply by saying that there is no problem as far as he is concerned. I sincerely hope that as a man from the midlands, he will give me an answer which will show that this is seen in a very serious light and that there are plans in hand to prevent further deaths on the road because of lights which blind people.
In reply to Deputy Browne's parliamentary question at the end of 1989, the Minister for the Environment invited him to submit details in support of these representations about the importation of unsuitable headlamps from Eastern Europe. To date, the Minister has not received the relevant details.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): He is the Minister.
I also understand that the Department have not received further representations on this subject from any source. If the Deputy supplies details, the Minister will consider what action may be appropriate.
As mentioned to the Deputy previously, the road traffic regulations require headlamps to be so constructed and fitted as to be incapable of dazzling other road users. Enforcement of these regulations is a matter for the Garda Síochána and they instituted 17,000 prosecutions for motor vehicle lighting offences in 1989.
The Department believe that the biggest problem in relation to dazzle is caused by failure to dip headlamps for approaching vehicles and by failure to repair damaged headlights which, I am sure the Deputy will agree, is most important because, if the headlight is not working on the right hand side of an approaching car or lorry, it can be extremely dangerous.
Headlamp aim is the most common defect found in heavy goods, buses and ambulances. The roadworthiness of buses and ambulances is tested annually. I appreciate the Deputy raising the matter and if he lets me have detailed information I will be glad to have it investigated. I have not received any complaints in regard to dazzle. The only complaint I have had is in regard to a bulb missing in the lights of a car, lorry or ambulance which, at night, is very dangerous, something that should be rectified immediately.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): If the Minister of State appoints me Minister he will not have to bother telling me what is wrong. The Minister has only to open his eyes to see the state of the lights on the road.
That is not correct, the Deputy was asked to give the information and he did not.
Deputy Browne will appreciate that whatever the Minister of State, Deputy Connolly, can do, he does not have the capacity to make anybody a Minister.