More Garda enforcement in future?

Spike Witwicky

Hi All

Due to me getting pissed off with drivers who don't indicate, have faulty lights and dont know what lane discipline is, I thought i'd shoot an email off to RSA seeing as they have a complaints section on their website. (includes standards & enforcement option)

Spike wrote:

Hello I was wondering if anything can be done regarding motorway lane discipline and faulty headlights
Every day on the M50 the two overtaking lanes are being used instead of the driving lane.
Regarding headlights, i was travelling from Blanchardstown to Naas via Maynooth and counted 41 cars with faulty headlights (not including incorrect alignment and fogs instead of headlights) Personally i feel enforcement of this is lacking

Here is their response.

RSA wrote:

Thank you for your email to the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and your interest in road safety.

This aspect of Road Safety is identified as ‘enforcement’ in nature and outside the statutory remit of the Road Safety Authority. An Garda Síochána is the organisation responsible for enforcement and I have forwarded a copy of your e-mail to them on your behalf.

The Road Safety Authority is responsibility for the ‘education’ aspect of road safety, and with that in mind we have in recent times produced two written publications touching upon this subject. The first is entitled ‘Correct use of lights’ and is available at the attached website;
http://rsa.ie/Documents/Road%20Safety/Leaflets/Leaf_booklets/Lights%20DL%202012%20v3.pdf

The second is of lesser relevance to the specific point that you raise. It is entitled “The Brighter Way to Save Lives” and can be viewed through the following web-link;
http://rsa.ie/Documents/Campaigns/Daytime%20running%20lights/flyer_HIRES_RSA.pdf

Lights are also addressed in our ‘Severe Weather Advice’ which is available via the following website link; http://rsa.ie/RSA/Road-Safety/Campaigns/Current-road-safety-campaigns/Severe-Weather-Advice/
; The severe weather radio advertisement which is currently running on National and local radio stations is also available through this web-link.

In addition, the correct use of lights is comprehensively addressed in our current edition of the “Rules of the Road”, Revision No. 2 March 2010. This is a matter of critical importance to Road safety. I would like to assure you that this matter is under constant review with a view to ensuring that, as the organisation responsible for Road safety education, we are doing all we can to address this matter adequately.

I hope that this information is of assistance to you. If you feel that I can assist you further, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards,

RSA said they would forward a copy on to the Gardai. Here is their response

An Garda Siochana wrote:

In addition to detection of such offences forming part of every day enforcement by Gardaí, the Garda roads policing operations plan for 2014 includes a number of specific operations which will focus on such offences as mentioned in your email to the RSA

Garda National Traffic Bureau

Admittedly i was surprised to get this response so i mailed back for clarification.

Spike wrote:

Thank you for your response and for the update. Do the policing operations planned include motorway lane discipline?

I understand that the Gardai are overworked and personally i feel they do a great job but everyday, regardless of what time it is, i see drivers with faulty lights, no use of indicators on roundabouts and no lane discipline.

To be fair this is not just an enforcement issue but a driver training issue as well.

Kind Regards

The bold part of the next quote is what gives me a glimmer of hope

An Garda Siochana wrote:

Operations scheduled to target general road offences include a focus on lane discipline and correct use of roundabouts by way of targetting offences like driving without due care and consideration and careless driving. Specific operations targetting lighting ofences are also conducted throughout the year.

While enforcement is necessary, education is the key to issues such as bad lane discipline and the Commissioner's Annual Policing Plan sets out continued educatioin of road users, in addition to enforcement, as a key goal for 2014

I have forwarded your email to the office of the Road Safety Unit in order that lane discipline and other issues mentioned by you might be considered for inclusion in future road safety segments on the Crime Call Programme

However, all these issues and dealing with same, be it through enforcement or education, form part of the daily focus of the Garda Traffic Corps


Garda National Traffic Bureau

Hopefully this will take effect but only time will tell

djimi

Ill believe it when I see it. Garda "operations" tend to be short lived and little more than PR exercises.

The only way to sort out problems like lane discipline is to have more of a presence on motorways/major roads, and quite frankly they havent the numbers to implement the required system like they have in the US for example with highway patrol.

Truckermal

Where are they going to get the Gardai to carry out this??

Spike Witwicky

I had a look at the Commissioner's Annual Policing Plan for 2014 and saw this under initiatives

Commissioner's Annual Policing Plan for 2014 wrote:

Targeted traffic
enforcement to
reduce deaths and
serious injuries on
our roads and to
challenge
dangerous road
user behaviour

Whether it will be enforced is different story though but i'm hoping

ironclaw

Issuing a press release and asking 'the lads' to be a little more vigilant over a certain weekend i.e. Give out as many points etc as you can for the problems raised in the aforementioned press release is not policing or education.

coylemj

The NCT was supposed to fix the problem with misaligned headlights but I agree that there is still a problem with one-eyed monsters blinding you, especially at dusk. The problem is that the only way to enforce the regulations would be for the Gardai to pull drivers over for roadside tests which would involve significant disruption - just look at the fallout from the spot check on the M1 before Christmas - and even then, people caught would only be fined minuscule amounts so why bother paying a garage to fix it when that would cost more than the probable fine?

obezyana

The cynic in me says their response to you is called fobbing you off with drivel.

It would be good tho if they did actually take action on some of the idiot drivers out there.

Until motorway education is part of the driving test/curriculum not much is going to change. Alot of people genuinely have no idea of lane usage on a motorway.

You need to genuine interest in driving to understand the need to be in the correct lane otherwise the middle lane is always going to be the ideal lane for someone who just wants to get from A - B with the least amount of hassle.

The fact that you drive around a quiet suburb at 12am, pass your test and are allowed on a 3 lane 100kph+ is ridiculous. The most education people get is the odd add from RSA saying to keep left. too late.

Odyssey 2005

Things will NEVER change in these matters until we get a minister who will stand up and do something. The one we have now will just keep passing the buck and will take NO responsibility. He will just keep saying that this is a matter for the Garda(not gardai) and enforcement measures should be directed to the Comissioner.
When will he realise HE is responsible,he cuts the budgets,he dictates how many Gardai we have and what resources are available to them. The Gardai are prob disillusioned and who could blame them. If the Comissioner says anything Shatter will start a huge storm in a teacup to deflect any blame from him or his blessed Enda.

Alun

cisk wrote: »

Until motorway education is part of the driving test/curriculum not much is going to change. Alot of people genuinely have no idea of lane usage on a motorway.

Including driving instructors themselves. I've seen driving school cars middle lane hogging as well on many occasions.

ardmacha

coylemj wrote: »

The NCT was supposed to fix the problem with misaligned headlights but I agree that there is still a problem with one-eyed monsters blinding you, especially at dusk. The problem is that the only way to enforce the regulations would be for the Gardai to pull drivers over for roadside tests which would involve significant disruption - just look at the fallout from the spot check on the M1 before Christmas - and even then, people caught would only be fined minuscule amounts so why bother paying a garage to fix it when that would cost more than the probable fine?

The solution for this is to legislate for increasing fines for multiple offences in a limited period. Stopped once, modest fine; stopped again, bigger fine; more than that whopping fine and confiscation of motor.

As for middle lane driving, everyone knows you drive on the left. A camera solution to this is needed, if you are in the middle and there is x metre gap on your left, then fine. Once again multiple offences in a limited period leads to escalating fines.

Atlantic Dawn

AA Roadwatch and RTÉ and most media still call the overtaking lane the fast lane, it should be an instant €900,000 fine for such an idiotic uneducated outburst

zl1whqvjs75cdy

Harsh but fair

grainnewhale

for the gardai to enforce these laws, would be to assume the gardai are aware of them. given their driving record I wouldn't hold my breath.