Road Traffic Act, 1933

PART IX.

Regulation of Traffic.

Bye-laws for the control of traffic generally.

147.—(1) The Commissioner may, with the consent of the Minister, make bye-laws for the general regulation and control of traffic, including all or any of the following purposes, that is to say:—

(a) the classification of traffic;

(b) requiring all traffic to proceed along a specified side of the roadway either at all times or in specified circumstances or in specified places;

(c) prescribing the respective rights of priority of passage of different classes of traffic proceeding in the same direction;

(d) prescribing the respective rights of priority of passage of traffic proceeding in different directions, whether opposite or crossing;

(e) prescribing rules for the use of roads by different classes of traffic and in particular by pedal cyclists and assigning different parts of the road to different classes of traffic;

(f) prescribing the routes or courses to be taken by traffic turning at a junction of roadways from one roadway to another roadway;

(g) regulating and controlling the stopping of vehicles on roadways;

(h) regulating and controlling the driving of vehicles on roadways when meeting or passing animals, whether such animals are accompanied or unaccompanied byany person or are or are not harnessed or attached to any vehicle;

(i) regulating and controlling the driving on roadways of animals which are not ridden or led by any person nor harnessed or attached to any vehicle;

(j) regulating and controlling the method of attaching a vehicle to another vehicle for the purpose of traction by such last-mentioned or any other vehicle, and the number of vehicles which may be the subject of traction at any one time by any one vehicle either generally or in specified circumstances or places, and the method of controlling a vehicle so attached to another vehicle;

(k) regulating and controlling the method of attaching to a vehicle an animal harnessed to another vehicle for the purpose of being led by such first-mentioned or any other vehicle and the number of such animals which may be so led at any one time by any one vehicle;

(l) regulating and controlling the conduct of pedestrians on roadways and in particular the crossing of roadways by pedestrians;

(m) prohibiting the use of footways by animals or particular classes of animals;

(n) prohibiting the use of footways by vehicles or particular classes of vehicles;

(o) requiring persons in charge of traffic or of specified classes of traffic to give audible warning of their approach in specified circumstances or at specified places and regulating and controlling the character and volume of such warnings;

(p) requiring signals to be given by drivers of vehicles to indicate intended alterations in the direction or rate of movement of such first-mentioned vehicles and prescribing the signals to be so given;

(q) regulating the control of traffic by members of the Gárda Síochána on duty for the purpose of exercising such control at junctions of roadways or angles or curves in or obstructions on roadways and in particular requiring signals to be given by drivers of vehicles and persons in charge of other traffic to members of the Gárda Síochána on such duty to indicate to such members the direction in which such drivers and persons wish to proceed and prescribing the signals to be so given and prescribing the signals to be given by such members to such drivers and persons to indicate to them the course they are to adopt and requiring such drivers and persons to obey such signals;

(r) the control of traffic by means of signals given mechanically at junctions of roadways or angles or curves in or obstructions on roadways and in particular prescribing the nature and character of such signals and requiring drivers of vehicles and persons in charge of other traffic to obey such signals.

(2) Any bye-law made under this section may be so made—

(a) either in respect of the whole of Saorstát Eireann or in respect of any specified portion of an area in Saorstát Eireann, and

(b) either generally for all times and occasions or specially for particular limited periods or particular occasions.

(3) The council charged with the maintenance οf a road in relation to which a bye-law made under this section is in force generally for all times and occasions shall erect, place, or make and shall maintain on such road all such notices, instructions, and directions (including notices, instructions, and directions placed or made on the surface of the roadway and also including instruments for the giving of signals by mechanical means) as the Minister shall direct for the purpose of indicating to persons in charge of traffic the existence of such bye-law and the course to be adopted in order to comply therewith.

(4) The council charged with the maintenance of a road in relation to which a bye-law is made under this section for a limited period or a particular occasion shall, before such period or occasion, erect, place, or make in such area and shall during such period or on such occasion maintain all such notices, instructions, and directions (including notices, instructions, and directions placed or made on the surface of the roadway) as the Commissioner shall direct for the purpose of indicating to persons in charge of traffic the existence of such bye-law and the course to be adopted in order to comply therewith.

(5) Section 36 of the Local Government Act, 1925 (No. 5 of 1925), shall be construed and have effect subject to and in accordance with the following provisions, that is to say:—

(a) the word “sign” shall in that section be construed as including an instrument for the giving of signals by mechanical means;

(b) references in that section to the erection of signs shall be construed as including the placing or making of signs on the surface of the roadway;

(c) there shall be and is hereby added to the purposes mentioned in paragraph (b) of sub-section (1) of that section the purpose of indicating to persons in charge of traffic the existence of a bye-law made under this section and the course to be adopted in order to comply therewith.

(6) In this section the word “traffic” includes vehicles and animals of every description but does not include pedestrians.

(7) Every person who does any act (whether of commission or omission) which is a contravention of a bye-law made under this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall on summary conviction thereof be liable to a fine not exceeding two pounds.