Kate Walsh (Progressive Democrats)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I have a few specific points to make. My colleague, Senator Morrissey, has spoken on the broader points of the Bill.

I commend the Government on this legislation setting out the responsibility that is to rest with the road safety authority. It has a duty to promote the development and improvement of driving standards as set out in section 6 of the Bill. My specific points refer not to the responsibility of the authority, but the responsibility that lies with road users to improve road safety. I am at the point of seeing my own vehicle for what it really is, namely, a lethal weapon. Cars have shown themselves capable or taking life after life in this country and abroad. My fear is that, as with so many issues today, the element of personal responsibility is either overlooked or underplayed. This is the third time in short succession that I have spoken in the House on road safety and I assure Senators that it depresses me more than them to be making the same points.

However, I am still not confident that the basic responsibilities of drivers, pedestrians and cyclists are being taken into consideration. This is confirmed by the 150 road deaths to date this year.

I am talking about the very basics, such as vehicle cleanliness and road-worthiness, driving with lights on and cyclists taking increased care. On the first point, it is crucial that drivers, particularly those of trucks, buses, lorries and all large vehicles, keep their lights, indicators and number plates clean and visible. The road safety authority must do its part to ensure drivers are compelled by law to keep their vehicles in the safest possible condition. Research has shown that dirty headlights can cut drivers' night vision by 50% to90%. The consequences for road safety are obvious, so it is not good enough to just clean cars and lights on the day of tests, when going to weddings or for Sunday afternoon drives. Ireland has seen too many needless funerals.

Research has shown that leaving dipped headlights switched on during daytime, regardless of the weather, reduces the risk of collisions. This is particularly the case while overtaking, when one travels on the wrong side of the road. Laws in Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Norway and Sweden require vehicles to operate with their lights on all day. In Canada, this practice has been in place since 1989 and its Government estimates that the measure saves 120 lives per year. What consideration has been or will be given to applying a similar regime here? I have twice asked the Minister of State this question in the Chamber. The regime could be in the context of the legislation before us in that the Bill allows the authority to make such recommendations to the Minister as it considers appropriate to promote, develop and improve driving standards.

In previous contributions I focused on the extra care that must be taken by pedestrians, but given the specifics of the Bill, I would like to ensure that another often overlooked group, namely, cyclists, is referred to. From an environmental and personal health point of view, I admire those who cycle as much as is practical on our roads. However, there must be sufficient education of drivers and cyclists to the specific danger cyclists pose to themselves and others on the road. The ability of cyclists to weave in and out of traffic does not give them the right to do so. I hope the road safety authority takes this and the other issues I have raised on board and I wish it well in its important work.