Written answers

Tuesday, 28 November 2017

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Road Traffic Legislation

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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557. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to bring in legislation to amend section 41 of the Road Traffic Act 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50347/17]

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act 1994 empowers An Garda Síochána to detain, store, release, or dispose of vehicles in certain specified circumstances.

On 14 November 2017, during the second stage debate in Dáil Éireann on the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017, I indicated that I intend to amend the circumstances listed in section 41 to add a situation in which the driver is an unaccompanied learner driver.  I propose to do so as an amendment to that Bill during its passage through the Dáil.

Learner drivers are required by law to have an accompanying qualified driver.  Failure to do so puts the learner driver and other road users at risk.  I believe that enabling An Garda Síochána to detain a vehicle in these circumstances will be an important enforcement tool as well as an important deterrent to this dangerous behaviour.

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