New signs will alert visitors to drive on the left
9 October 1996
New multi-lingual road traffic signs are to be erected to warn foreign tourists to drive on the left-hand side when they visit this country, the Minister for the Environment, Brendan Howlin has announced.
He was responding to a campaign launched by Mayo West Dail Deputy Michael Ring who has been highlighting the number of accidents involving out-of-State motorists.
Deputy Ring said he had been pressing the Minister on the matter because there had been a number of accidents again this summer caused by foreign visitors driving on the wrong side of the road.
Minister Howlin said: "While there is no specific evidence to suggest that our traffic sign system creates undue difficulties for tourists generally, a new multi-lingual road traffic sign to warn drivers of the requirement to drive on the left-hand side of the road has been developed and details have been circulated to all road authorities.
"The erection of such signs at appropriate locations is a matter for the individual road authorities.".
The Minister said the national Safety Council's information leaflet for tourists provided information on rules of the road, in three languages, including clear advice that all traffic must drive on the left.
Deputy Ring said the signs currently in place at airports and ferry ports were not sufficient to hammer home the message that Irish motorists drive on the left.
"Once the new signs are available they should be erected in all locations which attract large numbers of tourists.
"If they were to save one life or help prevent motor accidents they will have been worth the effort."
Connaught Telegraph - News - October 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sport - October 1996
