Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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663. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will introduce legislation or regulations to place a mandatory or statutory obligation on pedestrians walking on unlit roads at night to wear high-visibility clothing, if such an obligation would enhance road safety for pedestrians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45398/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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To create a statutory obligation on the wearing of reflective clothing would entail making it a criminal offence under Road Traffic legislation for any person guilty of not wearing high visibility clothing. A person in breach of such a provision would be issued with a fixed charge notice by a Garda or summonsed to court depending on whatever administrative procedure would be put in place for the processing of such offences.

In my view, safety issues such as these are best addressed by way of educational and publicity campaigns, such as those undertaken by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) which has responsibility for the promotion of road safety awareness, advertising and the dissemination of road safety information. The RSA is engaged on an ongoing basis in efforts to change our cultural attitude to road safety through advertising, publicity, education and community initiatives. As part of this process it has undertaken a number of campaigns to promote awareness among pedestrians of the need for visibility on our roads. 

In addition, almost four million high visibility vests, armbands, rucksack covers and other high visibility materials have been distributed by the RSA, An Gardaí Síochána, Road Safety Officers, Age Action and the Vintners Federation over the past three years. A number of measures have also been included in the Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020 aimed at increasing the wearing of high visibility clothing among pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

Ultimately, the safety of all road users is a matter of personal responsibility. In that context, the Rules of the Road include a strong recommendation supporting the wearing of light and preferably high-visibility clothing.