Seanad debates
Thursday, 27 November 2003
Road Traffic Bill 2003: Second and Subsequent Stages.
Senator O'Toole raised several issues. I would not support the introduction of a minimum speed. In the current legislation there is a clear requirement to drive carefully and with due care and attention and a garda could take the view that if one was crawling along at six miles an hour that did not constitute due care and attention and could deal with that. I signed the requirement to carry a licence into law on 1 January. The gardaĆ are enforcing that and assure me that it is part of their armoury. We are progressing the plastic card licence and I am determined that in 2004 we will move to a credit card size licence. The speed limit changes will take effect before the end of next September and apart from going metric we are also changing the speed limit, particularly the 60 mph limit on country roads which will come down to 50 mph. That is the single biggest change. It covers most roads and will be very helpful. The other changes are marginal. I hear what the Senator said about random testing.
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