S.I. No. 266/1989:

ROAD TRAFFIC (CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT AND USE OF VEHICLES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1989.

ROAD TRAFFIC (CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT AND USE OF VEHICLES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1989.

The Minister for the Environment in exercise of the powers conferred on him by sections 5 and 11 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 (No. 24 of 1961), hereby makes the following Regulations.

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 1989.

(2) The Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 to 1986 and these Regulations shall be construed as one and may be cited together as the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 to 1989.

(3) In these Regulations the "Principal Regulations" means the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963.

2. Article 28 of the Principal Regulations as amended by the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 1965 ( S.I. No. 79 of 1965 ) and the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 1981 ( S.I. No. 270 of 1981 ) is hereby amended by the addition of the following sub-article after sub-article (3):--

"(4) For the purposes of this article:--

(i) a vehicle used for fire brigade purposes shall include a vehicle being used by a senior fire officer in the performance of his duty as such officer;

(ii) "senior fire officer" means a fire officer not below the grade of Assistant Fire Officer (Prevention) but including the grade of Third Officer in Cork Corporation and the grade of Second Officer in Dun Laoghaire Corporation."

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for the Environment

this 17th day of October, 1989.

PADRAIG FLYNN,

Minister for the Environment.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

The purpose of these Regulations is to permit the fitting and use of a siren on a private car being used by a senior fire officer in the performance of his duty. In practice, such officers will adhere to guidelines to be issued by the Minister for the Environment as to the circumstances in which such a siren may be used.

These Regulations complement the Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 1989 ( S.I. No. 267 of 1989 ) which amends the Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 to 1985 to permit the use of a flashing blue lamp by a senior fire officer in similar circumstances.