The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has reversed its decision not to make the new version of the Rules of the Road available on the internet.
The RSA had initially opted against publishing the full document on the website, saying it wanted to use sales of the document to cover production costs.
However, following a strong public reaction, including coverage of the issue on the Letters page of The Irish Times, the RSA has now published the full version of the document in English on its website: www.rsa.ie
Brian Farrell, RSA spokesman, said the approach was changed due to public demand. The authority also confirmed that candidates preparing for a driving test would be examined on the new rules from Tuesday, May 1st.
Mr Farrell said that the five-week delay was to allow provisional drivers time to familiarise themselves with the new rules.
Noel Brett, chief executive of the RSA said: "Those taking a driving test will also be notified in writing, in the letter telling them of their driving test date, that they will be examined on the new March 2007 version of the Rules of the Road."
Along with being placed on the RSA website, copies of the rules are being distributed to bookshops and libraries. A hard copy of the new document costs €4. The rules will also be translated into Russian, Polish and Mandarin Chinese and these versions will be available from the RSA website as soon as possible, the authority said.
Copies of the new rules are also going to be sent to every household in the State by the end of the year, with the Irish Insurance Federation sponsoring much of the printing and distribution costs associated with sending out almost 1.7 million copies of the document.
The 202-page new rules contains 25 sections on good driving practice. It reflects recent road safety changes such as the introduction of metric speed limits, penalty points and on-the-spot fines.
The new document is the first in a series of road safety initiatives due before the election.
At the Fianna Fáil Ardfheis last weekend, the Minister for Transport Martin Cullen again outlined his plans for a graduated licensing system for learner drivers.
Mr Cullen also said that even tougher sentences would be introduced if drivers continue to drink and drive.
The RSA is also finalising the next Road Safety Strategy, which is expected to run for the next five years.