Vol. 465 No. 2
7 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for the Environment whether he intends to lay down official standards for the marking of non-national roads; and the cost per kilometre of providing on these roads central white-line marking and yellow-line markings at each margin. [3365/96]
Section 95 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, provides that the Minister may make regulations or give directions in relation to the provision of traffic signs, including road markings. The standards, measurements, use and legal status of signs are set out in such regulations and directions. Guidelines setting out the technical requirements and methods of application of thermoplastic road markings were prepared by the City and County Engineers' Association in 1988, in association with my Department. These provisions are being reviewed at present in the context of the preparation of a comprehensive traffic signs manual which will be launched as soon as possible. We spoke about that previously in the House, and I hope to be able to launch that manual in the near future.
The estimated cost of providing white centre lines and yellow edge lines on a typical kilometre of non-national road is £1,325.
I thank the Minister for his action and an encouraged by the fact that he will shortly publish the outcome of his deliberations with the city and county engineers and his own Department. Will he accept that there is an urgency to agree standards and put the markings in place on the ground? Will he also accept that in the UK independent surveys have demonstrated that where there were better road markings, both centre road and side road, there was a significant reduction in the number of road accidents? For that reason does he think it is important that the proposals should be implemented and local authorities alerted and, if necessary, required to put a certain sum of money into their estimates to ensure that this work is carried out?
I am strongly in agreement with the Deputy. I said months ago, in response to a question about road accidents, that I intended taking a range of measures, one of which was the preparation and publication of a comprehensive signs manual. I am totally in agreement with the Deputy that road markings and signage are a crucial factor in maintaining high standards of road safety. We have had a great deal of discussion on their preparation and the manuals are currently being printed. I understand it takes a little longer than normal to print them because the colours, by definition, have to be perfect. That will be available to every local authority, and I will be pushing them to have a uniform system of signage so that when people travel around the country they will meet the same standards, measurements and directions, and avoid confusion.
In relation to the primary roads, the National Roads Authority is also investing significant sums of money in signage and marking. Anybody who has travelled in the last 12 months on the NI and the N2 in particular will have noted the reflective markings on those roads. These will be systematically put on all the national roads. Coming back from Northern Ireland I was very impressed by the N2 which was like an airport runway in terms of the reflectors. Very good quality roads are a tremendous asset. Such markings will be a particular asset on county roads where there are bends or the road narrows. I am anxious that a considerable proportion of moneys from the increasing pool of money for non-national roads available to local authorities will be spent on this very important safety aspect.
I am pleased with the Minister's interest in this issue. Has he had consultations with city and county managers? Will he be putting a clear request to them to make sure that these proposals are implemented without delay and not long-fingered with the excuse of lack of funding?
I have had ongoing discussions with them. I spoke at a special seminar on road safety with the City and County Managers' Association in Dublin. They have been involved in the preparation of the manual, when it is launched and published they will all be informed individually about it and I hope it will have a positive impact on road safety standards.
