Holly Cairns
Ceist:99. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport his views on concerns expressed by visually-impaired persons in respect of e-vehicles and e-scooters. [6187/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 8 February 2023
Ceisteanna (99)
Freagraí scríofa
The safety of all road users, and particularly those more vulnerable road users, is at the forefront of my department's work to progress legislation for light electric 'micromobility' vehicles such as e-scooters and e-bikes. I believe that e-scooters have a role to play as a form of emission-free micromobility. At the same time, they have to be legislated for in a way which will ensure the safety of e-scooter riders and of other road users. The Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021, which has been passed by the Dáil and is currently before the Seanad, addresses e-mobility, amongst a range of other matters.
To this end, a comprehensive public consultation process was undertaken in 2020 to seek the views of a range of stakeholders including accessibility groups and advocates. A second consultation process was undertaken in 2021. Further to public consultation, a number of accessibility groups, including the NCBI, the Irish Wheelchair Association and Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, have made independent submissions to my department.
The findings of these submissions and of both consultations have informed the development of the Bill and are being considered in the preparation of subsequent regulations. The matters of concern raised by the organisations mentioned are matters which are dealt with in regulations rather than in Acts, for all classes of vehicle. Questions of where e-scooters can be used, the speed limits which should apply to them, or whether they should have audible warning devices are matters which will be addressed in regulations after the necessary enabling powers have been provided by the Bill.
Separately, in respect of electric cars, the Deputy may wish to note that since July 2019, all electric and hybrid vehicles placed on the market in the EU, including Ireland, are required under Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/1576 to have an acoustic vehicle alerting system (AVAS) fitted that will automatically emit a noise when travelling at speeds below 20km/h and when reversing to alert pedestrians of oncoming vehicles. The device is obligatory in all new EVs since 1 July 2021.
This requirement has been given effect in Irish law by means of the European Union (Road Vehicles: Type-Approval and Market Surveillance) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 556 of 2020).