asked the Minister for Justice if he is satisfied that there is adequate and up-to-date equipment available to the Garda in the event of a major road accident or traffic pileup, such as might occur on the Dublin Naas road.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Road Accident Equipment.
12.
The Garda have a substantial amount of up-to-date equipment for use at the scenes of traffic accidents. The Garda authorities consider that when "accident ahead" signs and some further reflectorised jerkins, which are on order, are received, the force as a whole will have adequate equipment available to ensure reasonable safety during the investigation of major road accidents and traffic pile-ups.
Is the Minister aware that some months ago, while the gardaí and an ambulance were at the scene of an accident on the dual carriageway, a second accident occurred involving a lorry and the car that had been involved in the original accident? Is the Minister confident that adequate advance warning signs such as beacons and flashers, are available to the Gardaí and that there is available immediately sophisticated lifting equipment and adequate lighting for dealing with accidents in the hours of darkness?
I am not familiar with the details of the crash to which the Deputy refers but I can assure him that Garda patrol cars are equipped adequately to deal with road accidents at night, and that the equipment includes flashing beacons, two hazard warning lamps—these are yellow flashing lights which can be placed on the roadway some distance from the scene of the accident—and two reflectorised triangles. In addition, the Gardaí wear Scotchlite belts. There are extra advance warning signs on order. I am aware that in relation to what was possibly the last accident to occur on the road to which the Deputy refers, these warning signs were all in position and were working but despite this a further vehicle approaching, ignored the signs and caused further damage. I cannot comment any further at this stage as the activities of that second vehicle are sub judice.