The long-awaited Road Traffic Bill, largely prepared by Mr Cullen's predecessor, Mr Seamus Brennan, will finally be debated in the Dáil today and tomorrow.
The bill covers a wide remit of issues including new speed limits in kilometres, which will come into force from January 22nd. The changes will be over three months later than recommended by a speed-limits working group.
They will mean that drivers will be able to travel slightly faster on roads in built-up areas, national roads and on motorways. The new 50km/h limit in built-up areas equals 31.07mph against the current 30mph limit.
Limits on small country roads will be set at 80 km/h (49.71mph), rather than 50mph.
On national roads, the limits will be 100km/h (62.14mph), rather than the existing 60mph. Motorways will be set at 120 km/h (74.5mph), a not insignificant increase on the existing 70mph bar.
"A changeover board has been put in place to make sure that everything is carried out," says the Department of Transport. "The local authorities will be involved as well."
The new limits will cause some difficulties for most drivers, though few, if any, are likely to go to the trouble of changing their speed gauge. This would cost a minimum of €500 in most cars and up to €1,500 in more expensive models, one Ford main dealer said privately.
The doubtful attraction of such a move is dented further by the fact that the new odometer would read from zero: "If you had a car with 35,000 miles, it would effectively be starting again," the dealer warned. "This would make re-sale tricky. Anything that carries a story, people will avoid. People will just have to remember the speed limits."
The accuracy of stick-on kilometre readings over existing gauges, which were trumpeted some months ago as a possible solution, is equally questioned.
The new legislation will also enable the Garda to hire private contractors to handle the administration of the penalty points system.
Drivers facing court hearings over most traffic offences, apart from parking fines, will also have to show licences to the court on the first day of the hearing.
The Minister also intends to make it illegal to sell cars or motorcycles to under-16s, following a series of accidents involving under-age drivers. Demands for such a ban reached a peak after a crash in October last year in Carrigaholt, Co Clare, which claimed two lives.
Lorna O'Mahony (13) and Stacey Haugh (16), both of Marian Estate, Kilkee, were killed and three teenage boys injured. The 1984 Opel Kadett had been bought for €150 in Galway on the day of the crash.
The Minister has decided not to go ahead "for now" with plans to give the Garda powers to randomly breath-test drivers - a power enjoyed by police in many other countries. Last month, Mr Seamus Brennan warned that the Attorney General was still trying to resolve Constitutional difficulties posed by such a power.
Fears of ambulance drivers and other emergency workers that they could face points for using hand-held radios and not wearing safety belts have been dealt with.
The Bill will also ensure that the State can launch a court challenge to ensure that drivers convicted of serious motoring offences are denied taxi licences.
