Jim Glennon (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Curran for sharing time. I welcome this Bill, the primary purpose of which is to provide for metrication. It is time our speed limits used metric rather than imperial measures. The issue has been on the agenda since we entered the EEC in the early 1970s. For many of the reasons already mentioned, metrication is a good idea.

It is good the Bill is going through although it is being dealt with in a somewhat rushed manner. Some local authorities around the country will have difficulty providing for 22 January. Whenever there is a deadline, some people have trouble meeting it. However, there was never going to be a perfect time to introduce this necessary legislation.

I wish to consider some issues arising from the legislation. My colleague, Deputy Curran, touched briefly on the penalty points system. We all know about the change in culture brought about by that system. Unfortunately, the change was only temporary and it is generally accepted that the majority of motors are slipping back into their old ways. There are a number of reasons for this. The novelty of the new system and the blaze of publicity surrounding it were an enormous plus towards a change of culture. However, when people realised enforcement would be as slack as it has been, observance of speed limits dropped.

The motoring public must accept that the Garda cannot stop an accident happening. However, through good management and sensible application of road traffic legislation, the Garda Síochána will be the major contributor to a change in driving culture. This will in turn lead to a reduction in the number of accidents. Gardaí get a raw deal in this regard as they are required to be present whenever there is an accident. Nowadays in particular many accidents occur between 12 midnight and 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. at weekends, the peak hours of business for gardaí on town streets and secondary roads surrounding our towns. It is impossible for them to cover everything. The gardaí are not responsible for preventing accidents nor should we expect that. We cannot allow a blame culture arise or let the finger be pointed at individual gardaí or individual Garda stations asking whether they should have done more to prevent accidents. Gardaí alone will not stop accidents. Only motorists, with the backup of the Garda, can change the culture and reduce the number of accidents.

Enforcement of speed limits and respect for them and road traffic legislation generally are important. However, we often see silly speed limits in place. I pass one every night on my way home. At the Port tunnel road works there is a 30 mph speed limit on a two-lane stretch at the start of the M1. This limit is observed by one driver in 15. I check every evening to see whether anybody else observes that limit, but I rarely have company chugging along at 30 mph on the inside lane. I do not entirely blame the motorists. The authorities, by placing such an unrealistic speed limit in this area, incur disrespect for realistic speed limits on other parts of the road network.

The problem is not confined to that particular area. Deputy Penrose will be familiar with the situation on the N4. My wife got a lovely letter yesterday morning informing her of her first penalty points. There are three different speed limits over a distance of 1,200 metres on that stretch of road. The signposting of these limits and the confusion arising from them is nothing short of ridiculous. It makes our position as legislators and the position of the Garda Síochána as the enforcement agency much more difficult.

There is an old saying that the law is an ass. The law will continue to be an ass if the authorities insist on making it so. The Government, the Garda Síochána and the local authorities are the authorities. We have inputs and must be reasonable in these circumstances. Carelessness on our part regarding unrealistic speed limit zones contributes to accidents.

I was interested in Deputy Stanton's suggestion about an advance driving course, or traffic violator school, rather than penalty points. Far too many drivers sat their test too long ago or possibly not at all. That suggestion could be positively examined.

I regret there is no provision in the legislation for random breath tests. I am in favour of such tests with regard to alcohol, as well as prescribed and recreational drugs.

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