Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will investigate the guidelines in regard to driving tests in order that minimal deficiencies in the vehicles do no impede the vehicles' safety or road worthiness and do not cause the test applicant to be refused the test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14690/05]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Transport the legality of tinted windows on vehicles; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that such tinted windows are not acceptable to driving test inspectors when an applicant presents such a vehicle at their driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14691/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 231 together.

Under the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 1963, a vehicle must be constructed so that the driver can, at all times, have such a view of the road and of other traffic on the road as is necessary to enable him to drive safely. The regulations also provide that where a windscreen is fitted to a vehicle, it shall be of a stable substance and fully transparent so that it does not distort the driver's view of objects.

As an employer, my Department has a responsibility to take reasonable measures to ensure the safety of staff. A driver tester must have particular regard to the need for his or her own safety, the safety of the test candidate and of other road users when taking a novice driver for a driving test.

Test candidates are informed in the leaflet entitled, Final Checks for your Driving Test, which issues with the letter of appointment for the driving test, that the vehicle presented for the driving test must comply with certain standards to meet health and safety requirements. Among the requirements specified is that the windscreen must not be unduly tinted. Where a driver tester determines, subject to guidelines issued to testers, that a vehicle is not roadworthy the tester is advised not to conduct the driving test.