asked the Minister for Local Government if his Department issue regulations concerning the maximum load for trucks, lorries and other road vehicles; and if he considers that these regulations are adequate and are effectively enforced at present.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Vehicle Load Regulations.
24.
The Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963, prescribe maximum weights laden for mechanically propelled vehicles and trailers, based on the number of axles and the length of the vehicle or vehicle combination. The enforcement of these requlations is a matter for the Garda Síochána and the road authorities.
Section 11 of the Road Traffic Bill, 1966, contains a provision which would enable a new system for regulating the weights of vehicles to be introduced. Under that system, the maximum weight of vehicles would be determined to take account, inter alia, of horse power, brakes and tyres and would then be prominently displayed on a plate on the vehicle. This system should be easier to enforce and be more effective from the safety point of view.
Can the Minister say when this will be enforced?
This Bill has to be passed first. It is meeting with a lot of delay in the Dáil.
What? We were ready to take it instead of the PR Bill for the past month if the Minister wanted to.
It has been on in the past two months and has been obstructed here by the Opposition in the interest of people who have a vested interest in preventing its passage.
That is quite wrong. You could have got it two months ago instead of the PR Bill.
That is not what held it up. It is very difficult to get the Opposition to take it and when they take it, they obstruct it.
You could have had it. Do not blame anyone but yourselves.