Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Transport when he will publish legislation to implement the graduated driver licence programme; the proposed measures that will be contained in this legislation; if he will update the Rules of the Road to include regulations for four lane motorways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17334/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Safety Strategy 2007-2012 outlines a range of measures to be considered in relation to a Graduated Driver Licensing System. A progressive roll-out of appropriate measures is envisaged as the most practical approach.

The Deputy will recall the introduction of the first phase of the Scheme in October last year, when Regulations were introduced in relation to learner drivers. These Regulations replace provisional licences with learner permits, require learner drivers to be accompanied by a person with a full driving licence for at least 2 years, prescribe a period of 6 months before a learner driver can apply for a test, and require learner motorcyclists to wear an L-plate. Other measures will be considered by me on the basis of proposals from the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

In relation to the Deputy's question on four-lane carriageways, the motorway driving rules that are set out in the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 apply to all motorways irrespective of the number of traffic lanes on the carriageway. Further regulations are not required in respect of the use of four-lane carriageways.

The Rules of the Road booklet uses illustrations and gives advice in the context of 2 and 3 lane carriageways, as these are the most common situations that a driver will encounter. The same principles apply to any carriageway with more than three lanes.