asked the Minister for Local Government whether he will consider the desirability of regulating pedestrian traffic in all cities and towns with a population over 5,000, and of forbidding the crossing of streets except at specified points.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Regulation of Pedestrian Traffic in Cities and Towns.
Pedestrian traffic throughout the country is already regulated by the general by-laws made for the control of traffic. These by-laws provide that a pedestrian is entitled to the right of way at pedestrian crossings, while vehicle users have the right of way over the rest of the roadway. Furthermore, at a junction controlled by a pointsman or traffic lights, a pedestrian is required to follow the direction of the pointsman or lights, and is forbidden to cross other than by way of a pedestrian crossing where such exists. When crossing the roadway at such a junction, he must not remain on the roadway longer than is reasonably necessary.
There is power to supplement these general provisions by having local by-laws made where necessary. It is open to any local authority to approach the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána with a view to having such by-laws made. They have, in fact, been made for a number of urban areas. In each case it is made an offence to cross a road or street where a crossing place for pedestrians exists within a distance of 50 feet on either side from such crossing place.