Wallace encourages motorists to read new rules of the road guide
Meath East TD and Minister of State Mary Wallace encourages motorists to read the newly launched Rules of the Road Guide and would request parents to show this guide to teenagers who are about to learn to drive.
The publication is of benefit to experienced drivers as well as new drivers with 25 individual sections outlining all aspects of road use, good driving practice and road safety. Rules for motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians are also included. Changes too in road use over the last number of years have also been incorporated across various chapters such as the driver theory test; metric speed limits; explanations of the penalty points that are now in place; recent child seat belt laws and rules where the on-street running of trams such as the LUAS are in operation. It also promotes safety and courtesy in the use of our roads.
This Government is committed to reducing the numbers of deaths on our roads. In addition to the establishment in 2006 of the Road Safety Authority (RSA), last year also saw legislation for the introduction of Mandatory Alcohol Testing (MAT). Countrywide the Government is investing in new, improved and safer roads - the dual carriageways and the motorways that the National Roads Authority are building right across the country are seven times safer than the roads they are replacing. The Penalty Points system was extended with effect from April featuring 35 separate offences with mobile phones added from last September. The Government also established a dedicated Garda Traffic Corps and €10 million has also been allocated to the RSA to specifically reduce driving test waiting times. " A copy of the new publication is being sent to all households in the country and I would encourage families to read it and discuss its contents in the home. Reducing the number of deaths and injuries that occur on Irish roads is a responsibility we all share and being familiar with the contents of this guide is extremely important in the challenge of reducing the carnage on our roads," said Minister Wallace.