Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has given a logical opinion and I appreciate what he said. Penalty points for offences that do not lead to traffic accidents should be regarded in a different light but I take the Minister's point. I am delighted he thinks we should examine the possibility of turning left on red and I hope he will consider it.

I refer to amendment No. 5, which I did not realise was being taken in this grouping. The amendment relates to the sanction of those who misuse a so-called mini-roundabout. There is no agreed definition of a "mini-roundabout". There is general confusion, not least because of the fact that various county councils can take it upon themselves to make up their own version of mini-roundabouts. They take the form of solid structures with a flower bed, round humps on the road or simply just a paint mark. Motorists are confused because many of them are put in farcical places. It is almost impossible for drivers to see them sometimes because they are small. If they are travelling through an area for the first time, will they see a mini-roundabout before it comes up on them? I have great difficulty with them on occasion and they are more likely to cause accidents than prevent them. Until there is a solid definition of such roundabouts, this section should not be implemented. Giving penalty points for this offence is a little backward when there is no agreement on the definition. We should display common sense on this and we should not proceed with the section. The Minister should accept my amendment until there is clarity on the issue because there is a doubt as to what constitutes a mini-roundabout.

On occasion, I travel from the north side to the south side of Dublin along the coast road and there are a number of these roundabouts in Sandymount. People travelling towards the city do not realise there is a mini-roundabout there while people leaving the city who need to turn right automatically turn because they have the right of way on the roundabout, but I am amazed there are not more accidents there. We should establish what is a mini-roundabout or we should not pass laws that refer to them until that happens.