John Browne
Ceist:12 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to bring to the notice of the public the importance of having proper lights on cars. [9178/95]
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Badly Adjusted Headlamps.
John Browne
Ceist:20 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for the Environment if, as a result of his reply to Parliamentary Questions No. 12 of 14 December 1989, 26 of 28 November 1990, 26 of 23 October 1991, and 53 of 25 March 1992, either his Department or the National Safety Council regard the problem of badly adjusted headlamps as serious. [9179/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 20 together.
The Deputy's suggestion for a special publicity campaign relating to properly adjusted headlights was brought to the attention of the National Safety Council which is responsible for promoting road safety awareness. I understand from the council that, because of competing demands on their funds for other essential safety promotion issues, it was not possible for them to promote a special campaign on vehicle lighting. It is, of course, a matter for the council to decide, in the context of its overall programme, whether and when such a campaign should be pursued, but I will again have the matter drawn to its attention.
The Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 to 1994, set down the requirements for lighting on all motor vehicles, including a requirement that dipped headlamps be so constructed and fitted as to be incapable of dazzling other road users. I would regard non-compliance with the requirements as a serious matter. Enforcement is a matter for the Garda Síochána whose reports indicate that 11,543 prosecutions were initiated for various motor vehicle lighting offences in 1993; there were 7,256 convictions in the same year for such offences.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): It is clear that Cork has more power than any other county in this Dáil. I first tabled that question in 1989. I have asked on four different occasions, excluding today, whether badly adjusted headlamps would be regarded as a serious problem. There is a different way of life altogether in rural Ireland.
Many of these people live in cities and towns where improperly focused lights on oncoming motor vehicles mean nothing. I ask the Minister to tell the National Safety Council that after five years it is time it realised that people in rural areas travelling on narrow roads frequently meet cars with defective headlights. This must be one of the most serious difficulties encountered by rural motorists on whose behalf I speak.
I too represent a rural constituency and I understand the problem. This is a matter of enforcement. The law is clear and the Garda Síochána are enforcing it and have reported 11,500 prosecutions in one year for offences under the lighting provisions.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): They were for tail lights.
There is a variety of lighting problems. I will indicate to the National Safety Council the Deputy's concerns and hopefully they will run a campaign on this issue but it will not be a matter of simple education. We must have rigid enforcement to secure the maximum possible degree of safety on our roads.
That concludes questions for today.