A million "disorientated" North American and Continental drivers on Irish roads needed special measures to be reminded to drive on the left, Fine Gael frontbencher Mr Denis Naughten said today.
Mr Naughten was responding to news that over the summer months as many as 17 fatal accidents would involve foreign drivers and 10 per cent of road accidents involve drivers from overseas.
Mr Naughten said about a million tourists used to driving on the right-hand side of the road used cars to get around Ireland and they found driving on the left-hand side "disorientating."
He said taking into account the poor quality of many Irish roads this added up to "a deadly combination that can lead to disaster".
"The Irish Insurance Federation claim that between 10 per cent and 15 per cent of accidents involving hired cars are the result of tourists being on the wrong side of the road," Mr Naughten said.
He urged the introduction of an electronic warning system in hire cars to tell motorists when they were on the wrong side and the doubling of warning road signs throughout the State.
PA