Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will explore the possibility of making it a legal requirement for persons driving motorcycles to use their lights on a continuous basis during daylight hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17400/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Draft Regulations regarding improved motorcycle standards are currently under discussion in the EU. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) represents my Department at these discussions and I am informed that the proposals relate only to manufacturing standards and specify the standards to be applied to new motorcycles from a future date, which remains to be decided. The proposals envisage a legal framework for the type approval and increased market surveillance of mopeds, motorcycles and quads, which will replace and simplify the existing Framework Directive 2002/24/EC.

Among the elements of the proposed Regulations is the automatic activation of Daytime Running Lights (DRL) as well as mandatory anti-lock braking systems and prevention of tampering with the powertrain.

The RSA encourages all motorcyclists to use DRL in daylight hours and have launched an awareness campaign with a view to increasing the use of DRL on a voluntary basis. Any decision to introduce national regulations to make DRL mandatory for motorcyclists will await the outcome of the discussions at EU level.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will explore the possibility and viability of making it compulsory for persons cycling bicycles to wear high visibility vests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17401/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Observation studies conducted by the Road Safety Authority have, in the past, reported high levels of wearing of visibility clothing of approximately 47% by cyclists in Ireland and this is considered to be higher now. One of the actions of the Road Safety Strategy 2007-2012 requires the RSA to implement specific educational and awareness initiatives aimed at vulnerable road users and in particular recommends the use of high visibility clothing for cyclists. The RSA has distributed, free of charge, thousands of high visibility vests to cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians.

The mandatory wearing of high visibility vests for cyclists is not currently under consideration.