Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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446. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce legislation and safety regulations for the testing of driverless cars here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10240/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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My Department is currently working with industry stakeholders, other Government Departments and State agencies to develop guidelines for the testing of autonomous vehicles on Irish roads. The guidelines make clear that any vehicles being tested on public roads must obey all relevant road traffic laws, and that tests should be underpinned by a safety plan setting out the safety assurance and risk management strategies in place.

Preparatory work has begun within my Department on a national Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) roadmap and plan. This will set out at a strategic level the considerations associated with the introduction of CAVs onto Irish roads, and the need for future legislation will be explored as part of this work.

Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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447. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce legislation with regard to electric scooters; if he has examined the specific issues relating to these vehicles to date; and if legislation will be introduced to bring Dublin in line with other European cities similar to European standard EN15194 with regard to electric bicycles. [10241/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I am aware of the increasing use of eScooters, electrically/powered skateboards etc. on our roads.  I have requested the Road Safety Authority to research how such vehicles (classified as mechanically propelled vehicles in the Road Traffic Acts) are dealt with (i.e. regulated) in other countries, particularly other Member States. I am keen to understand the road safety implications of the use of such vehicles on public roads, especially when interacting with other vehicles.

I will make a decision on whether or not to amend existing legislation when I have received the outcome of the Authority’s research.

Electric bicycles are a different issue from eScooters.  Where a bicycle has an electric motor attached which may be used as an alternate means of propulsion, the vehicle is defined as a mechanically propelled vehicle under the Road Traffic Acts whether or not the motor is being used.  However, under Article 1 (h) of EU Directive 2002/24/EC E-bikes are defined as “cycles with pedal assistance which are equipped with an auxiliary electric motor having a maximum continuous rated power of 0.25 kW, of which the output is progressively reduced and finally cut off as the vehicle reaches a speed of 25 km/h, or sooner, if the cyclist stops pedalling”.  Legal advice obtained by the Department confirms that as bikes of this type require continuous effort on the part of the cyclist, they are considered to be pedal cycles. 

Pedal assisted cycles with a maximum continuous rated power of more than 0.25 kW and E-bikes that can be exclusively propelled by the motor  are classified in the Directive as low-performance mopeds, i.e. vehicles with pedals, with an auxiliary engine of power not exceeding 1 kW and a maximum design speed not exceeding 25 km/h.  Such vehicles are subject to Road Traffic legislation, with the rider obliged to have registration, tax, insurance, and an appropriate driving licence where the vehicle is to be used in a public place.