asked the Minister for Education whether his attention has been called to a recent case in the Dublin District Court in which a boy cyclist was fined 7/6 for the offence of holding on to a motor lorry while in motion, and if in view of the prevalence of this dangerous practice and to the fact that it is due mainly to ignorance on the part of youngsters, he will bring to the attention of school teachers the regulations prescribed under the Road Traffic Act with a view to instruction being given in the schools in that regard and as to the dangers of road traffic and the best means of avoiding them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Traffic Act.
I am sending the Deputy a copy of a circular letter issued by my Department in April, 1934, to the managers and teachers of national schools, advising them that teachers should, from time to time, give brief talks, in the form of conversation lessons, to the pupils of the third and higher standards of national schools on special aspects of "Traffic and Other Dangers."
The subjects for the conversation lessons, as given in the circular, which were intended merely as suggestions to the teachers who are expected to extend them in number and detail, include "Motoring and Other Forms of Traffic," and, under this head, the teachers will, no doubt, refer in their talks to the dangerous practice on the part of cyclists of holding on to vehicles, or persons or things on or in or attached to vehicles while in motion, which is an offence under Section 156 of the Road Traffic Act.
In the circumstances I see no reason for communicating with the teachers in the matter.
Is the Minister aware that there are quite a number of accidents, even in the City of Dublin alone, arising from what may be considered breaches of this Road Traffic Act, and does he not consider that some effort ought to be made, having regard to those accidents, some of which are fatal, to draw public attention to the fact? Has any action been taken to bring the regulations referred to into operation in the schools?
I have no information with regard to accidents taking place in the city. I think that as much as can reasonably be expected has been done by the Department of Education in circularising the school authorities. I would suggest that broadcasting, for example, might be utilised in this regard. I cannot see any advantage at the moment, as I said, in issuing a further circular on the matter.