Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I know but some teachers do not.

Any improvements to the overall delivery and standard of the driving test introduced by this authority will also have significant benefits. There have been a number of improvements to the driving test in recent years, most notably the introduction of the driver theory test as well as a detailed report sheet which shows the test candidate where his or her driving skills are weak. The facility to apply on-line for the test was also introduced and has been well received. However, if we are to keep up with improving international standards, the Irish system will benefit from focused changes which I am confident this authority will implement as they arise.

I understand some changes are to be brought about in the area of testing motorcycle drivers, which I welcome. Every morning and almost every evening, I notice motorcyclists overtaking cars travelling at a slow speed on the route I take to work. Invariably, they are on the wrong side of the white line or they travel on the hard shoulder on one's blind side. A concerted effort must be made to improve the behaviour of motorcyclists. They are good at wearing helmets, at other things and at driving high-powered bikes but weaving in and out of traffic and crossing over continuous white lines is dangerous. I urge the traffic corps of the Garda to pay as much attention to that aspect of driving as is possible.

There is an aspect of the proposals about which I have a concern. All politics are local. Although I would like to be contradicted and told I am wrong, I understand there are proposals to concentrate the testing of truck drivers in one particular test centre, the Finglas test centre on Jamestown Road. Notwithstanding that this centre is located in my constituency in which we do not want to see increased levels of heavy vehicles, I have a number of reservations about the idea. It would represent a backward step in driver testing. Rather than testing the level of competence a driver has with a heavy vehicle, we would be testing his or her ability to memorise a particular route and to be aware of particular junctions and familiar only with the traffic constrictions in one area. To pass this test would only involve committing this route to memory and would not necessarily illustrate competence in driving large or more dangerous vehicles. I am sure I am not alone in this House in having those reservations. I do not know whether it is because of a feeling this might happen in our area but there has been a huge increase in the number of driving schools running courses for truck drivers in the Finglas area clogging up roads and parking on and damaging footpaths. It is a matter which must be reviewed.

It is worth noting that in the driver licensing area, the day to day operation of the licensing system, including the provision of blank licences and forms to licensing authorities, would transfer to the authority. Of course, policy making in these areas and the making of driver licensing regulations will remain with the Department of Transport, which I welcome. After all, the licensing system not only controls drivers, but is also the system which records penalty points and disqualifications incurred by drivers for road traffic offences. I also approve of the continuing interaction between the specialised transport staff in the Department and the local licensing authorities. It is worth noting that in the area of penalty points, the record will be endorsed electronically through a card system between the Courts Service, the Garda Síochána and the vehicle registration unit. Currently, queries about the application of penalty points are dealt with by the Department of Transport but this function will now pass to the new authority.

Given proposals before the European Parliament for consideration which aim to enhance security features on licences and which will require greater involvement at central level, the new authority will be the ideal body to facilitate such an arrangement because of the close connection between driver testing and driver licensing. If there is to be co-operation in this area, I wonder whether this facility might also play a greater role in combatting or at least in seeking justice for offences carried out on our roads by drivers licensed in other countries. My main experience of this is the speeding which occurs on the N2, often by vehicles registered in Northern Ireland. I am aware a similar authority has been established in the UK and it would beneficial if we could co-operate with it to bring these offenders to justice.

I have a serious concern about truck drivers, especially from Northern Ireland and the UK but also mainland Europe who do not understand the implications of driving on the other side of the road. The same might apply to Irish truck drivers driving in mainland Europe. It would be useful if there was an awareness campaign by the road haulage associations or the relevant European bodies governing the licensing of the road haulage industry to highlight the need for better driver behaviour. Last Saturday evening I saw, I think, a Netherlands registered articulated truck negotiate one of the roundabouts on the M50. It all but sandwiched a small Fiat Punto against the safety barrier. Admittedly, that happens infrequently but once is too often. In some way or other, we should try to ensure all these issues are addressed.

The establishment of a separate public body to deliver and improve on the driver testing service is an important development. Significantly, it will enable us to provide a superior and safe driver testing service. I prepared these remarks some time ago and am unsure whether the initiative announced earlier this week has superseded them. I am not anti-privatisation per se but have reservations about farming out important areas of public policy to the private sector, sometimes without adequate policing controlling powers. I hope that if measures such as these are introduced, we ensure they are carefully monitored. Many Members hear complaints reasonably regularly about inconsistencies in the application of the NCT test for car roadworthiness. Sometimes, how one fares depends on the centre to which one goes or on the particular tester at a centre.

The authority to which I referred will have the necessary flexibility to take an innovative approach to the area of driver testing and I look forward to seeing what inventive and exciting ideas it can come up with. I recognise that the benefits will not be as immediate as those resulting from the targeting of the offences of speeding, seat belt wearing and drink driving. I am also mindful that these and any other measures are only as good as the manner in which they are applied. In other words, there is no point in having a law unless it can be applied or implemented by the Garda when required. On that point, the Government must continue to deliver on the enforcement element of its strategy. Garda visibility is of the utmost importance and I look forward to the full implementation of that policy.

I welcome the introduction of the Garda traffic corps. The Garda's visibility is certainly improving and the fact that it now has high visibility colouring on its motorcycles and four by fours is important. I have noticed a commendable increase in the number of spot checks on speeding. For example, on the N2 over the recent bank holiday, I saw more than one driver fall into the trap of driving carefully past a hand-held camera only to encounter, having accelerated, a fixed camera 500 m further on. It was nice to see the camera flashing every time someone drove by above the speed limit. Perhaps this might give the lie to those who feel not only that the camera lies from time to time but that it does not take pictures.

A number of issues bother me personally. Some time ago, I raised one by way of a parliamentary question, namely, the advertising and sale of scanners. I know of one retail location where they are readily available, with a sandwich board on the footpath. One can acquire a scanner which purportedly ensures that one can drive over the limit without being detected by the Garda radar. What measures, if any, can the Minister take? Will he invoke legislation to ensure that the sale of such devices is illegal?

If we foster the development and improvement of driving standards throughout the country, this will strengthen the overall strategy for road safety. The proposed driver and standards authority is a very important element in the process of improving road safety in general. I, therefore, commend the Minister on this Bill and welcome it in the House.

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